Molecular mechanism inhibiting human hepatocarcinoma cell invasion by 6-shogaol and 6-gingerol

Mol Nutr Food Res. 2012 Aug;56(8):1304-14. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201200173. Epub 2012 Jun 20.

Abstract

Scope: We previously demonstrated that 6-shogaol and 6-gingerol, two active compounds in ginger (Zingiber officinale), possess antiinvasive activity against highly metastatic hepatoma cells. The aims of this study were to evaluate the inhibitory effect and molecular mechanism underlying the transcription and translation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in Hep3B cells as well as the antiangiogenic activity of 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol.

Methods and results: By gelatin zymography and luciferase reporter gene assays, we found that 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol regulate MMP-2/-9 transcription. Moreover, 6-gingerol directly decreased expression of uPA, but the 6-shogaol-mediated decrease in uPA was accompanied by up-regulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1. 6-Gingerol and 6-shogaol concentrations of ≥ 10 μM and ≥ 2.5 μM, respectively, significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and PI3K/Akt signaling, the activation of NF-κB, and the translocation of NF-κB and STAT3. Incubation of 6-gingerol or 6-shogaol with human umbilical vein endothelial cells or rat aortas significantly attenuated tube formation.

Conclusion: 6-Shogaol and 6-gingerol effectively inhibit invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma through diverse molecular mechanisms, including inhibition of the MAPK and PI3k/Akt pathways and NF-κB and STAT3 activities to suppress expression of MMP-2/-9 and uPA and block angiogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology*
  • Catechols / pharmacology*
  • Fatty Alcohols / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-8 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-8 / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / genetics
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / genetics
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / genetics
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Rats
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Catechols
  • Fatty Alcohols
  • Interleukin-8
  • NF-kappa B
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1
  • SERPINE1 protein, human
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • shogaol
  • gingerol
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9