Epimedium regulates stem cell-like character of breast cancer via miR-148a

Bo Song; Ming-ran Liu; Fu-xia Wei; Ying Chen; Shao-shuai DI; Chun-tao Zhai; Zhi Chai; Yan-miao MA; Tao Peng; Tao Peng

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Epimedium regulates stem cell-like character of breast cancer via miR-148a

Author: Bo SONG ¹ ; Ming-Ran LIU ¹ ; Fu-Xia WEI ¹ ; Ying CHEN ¹ ; Shao-Shuai DI ¹ ; Chun-Tao ZHAI ² ; Zhi CHAI ² ; Yan-Miao MA ² ; Tao PENG ³ ; Tao PENG ⁴
Author Information

1. Graduate School, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine
2. Basic Medical College, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine
3. Famous Chinese Medcine Studio, Shanxi Hospitail of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine
4. Provincal Key Lab of Classical Prescription Strengthening Yang
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: breast cancer; EMT; epimedium; migration; miR-148a; stem cell-like character
From: Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2023;39(5):851-859
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Aim To observe the effect of epimedium on the proliferation and stem cell-like character expression of breast cancer cells, and investigate the relationship between the inhibition of stem cell-like character and miR-148a by epimedium, and its molecular mechanism. Methods After treatment with different concentrations of epimedium, cell viability and population dependence were detected by MTT assay and colony formation assay; the breast cancer stem cell-derived mammosphere formation was examined by Mammosphere assay; the expression levels of CD44,ALDH-1, Oct4,BMIl and EpCAM were detected by qPCR; the protein expression levels of EpCAM, SOX4, ZO-1, E-cadherin and vimentin were detected by Western blot; the protein localization of EpCAM was observed by im-munofluorescence assay; the effect of epimedium on migration was detected by wound healing assay. The miR-148a mimic was transfected into MDA-MB-231 cells, and the effects of epimedium on stem-like character expression of transfected MDA-MB-231 cells were observed. Results Epimedium significantly inhibited the proliferation and population dependence of MDA-MB-231 cells (P < 0.05 ), and reduced the breast cancer stem cell-derived mammosphere formation; compared with control group, epimedium significantly decreased mRNA levels of CD44, ALDH-1, Oct4, BMI1 and EpCAM (P <0.05) ,decreased protein contents of EpCAM, SOX4 and Vimentin (P < 0.05 ), up-regulated the protein expression of ZO-1 and e-cadherin ( P <0.05) ,and decreased the migration ability of MDA-MB-231 cells (P < 0.05). Epimedium up-regulated the expression of miR-148a in MDA-MB-231 cells (P <0.01). YYH + miR-148a mimic group significantly inhibited stem-like character expression and EMT process of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells compared with control group (P <0.05). Conclusions Epimedium can inhibit the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells, which may be related to the up-regulation of miR-148a, decrease of stem-like character expression of breast cancer cells,and inhibition of EMT.