Kanittha Sangkachantaranon. Effects of curcumin on in vitro invasion of human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines . Master's Degree(Biochemistry). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2006.
Effects of curcumin on in vitro invasion of human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines
Abstract:
Curcumin (Diferuloylmethane), a yellow pigment from the rhizome of
Curcuma longa Linn (Khamin Chan), has been widely used in the South and
Southeast Asian cosmetic and cookery for centuries. Curcumin is well known for
its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. Recently, it
has been shown to exhibit anti-metastatic activities against several cancer cell
types. In this research, the anti-metastatic property of curcumin was examined by
using human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines (CCA) developed from Thai patients,
KKU-100, KKU-213 and HuCCA-1 as models.
In this study, the effects of curcumin on cell cytotoxicity and proliferation
were determined by MTT assay. Effects on in vitro invasion and motility were
determined by using Transwell assay. Gelatinase and uPA activities of the cancer
cells were assayed using Gelatin zymography. ERK1/2 phosphorylation in
response to curcumin treatment was determined by using western blot and
immunofluorescence labeling. Effects of curcumin on the actin cytoskeleton were
assayed by immunofluorescence using Rhodamine-Phalloidin staining.
The data showed that, treatment with non-toxic concentrations of curcumin
resulted in a dose-dependent reduction of proliferation, in vitro invasion, motility,
gelatinase and uPA activities of the three cell lines. This is accompanied by
alterations of actin organization and cells morphology, although there is no effect
on chromatin condensation as determined by DAPI staining. Upon curcumin
treatment, ERK1/2 phosphorylation is activated, which can be suppressed by a
MEK1 inhibitor, PD98059.
These findings suggest that curcumin suppressed invasiveness of cancer
cells at non-toxic doses by inhibiting motility, and gelatinase and uPA activities,
but not adhesiveness. The inhibitory effects of curcumin on in vitro invasion and
motility are associated with functional alteration in cytoskeletal organization.
Curcumin-mediated inhibition of in vitro invasion is accompanied by an increase
in ERK1/2 phosphorylation, but it is unlikely that this increase is responsible for
suppression of invasiveness of the cancer cells.