Chrysin inhibits cell invasion by inhibition of Recepteur d'origine Nantais via suppressing early growth response-1 and NF-κB transcription factor activities in gastric cancer cells

Int J Oncol. 2015 Apr;46(4):1835-43. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2015.2847. Epub 2015 Jan 23.

Abstract

Cell invasion is one of crucial reasons for cancer metastasis and malignancy. Recepteur d'origine Nantais (RON) has been reported to play an important role in the cancer cell invasion process. High accumulation and activation of RON has been implicated in gastric adenocarcinoma AGS cells. Chrysin is a naturally occurring phytochemical, a type of flavonoid, which has been reported to suppress tumor metastasis. However, the effects of chrysin on RON expression in gastric cancer are not well studied. In the present study, we examined whether chrysin affects RON expression in gastric cancer, and if so, its underlying mechanism. We examined the effect of chrysin on RON expression and activity, via RT-PCR, promoter study, and western blotting in human gastric cancer AGS cells. Chrysin significantly inhibited endogenous and inducible RON expression in a dose-dependent manner. After demonstrating that Egr-1 and NF-κB are the critically required transcription factors for RON expression, we discovered that chrysin suppressed Egr-1 and NF-κB transcription factor activities. Additionally, the phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate- (PMA) induced cell invasion was partially abrogated by chrysin and an RON antibody. Our results suggest that chrysin has anticancer effects at least by suppressing RON expression through blocking Egr-1 and NF-κB in gastric cancer AGS cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Early Growth Response Protein 1 / genetics*
  • Early Growth Response Protein 1 / metabolism
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / drug effects
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics*
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Stomach Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • EGR1 protein, human
  • Early Growth Response Protein 1
  • Flavonoids
  • NF-kappa B
  • chrysin
  • RON protein
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases