Glycyrrhetinic acid inhibits the malignant biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells through the β-catenin/TCF4 signaling pathway
10.3872/j.issn.1007-385x.2025.03.008
- VernacularTitle:甘草次酸通过β-catenin/TCF4通路抑制肝细胞癌SMMC-7721细胞的恶性生物学行为
- Author:
Zhuocui SHE
1
;
Lieyang LYU
;
Di WU
;
Shuxian SHANG
;
Jun LYU
Author Information
1. 武汉市中医医院 肿瘤科,湖北 武汉 430000
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
glycyrrhetinic acid(GA);
β-catenin/transcription factor 4(TCF4);
hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC);
SMMC-7721 cell;
proliferation;
migration;
invasion;
epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)
- From:
Chinese Journal of Cancer Biotherapy
2025;32(3):288-293
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the effects and mechanisms of glycyrrhetinic acid(GA)on the proliferation,migration,invasion,and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)of hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells by regulating the β-catenin/transcription factor 4(TCF4)signaling pathway.Methods:HCC cells SMMC-7721 were randomly separated into the control,L-GA,M-GA,H-GA groups(50,100,200 μmol/L GA)and the GA+LiCl group(200 μmol/L GA+40 μmol/L β-catenin activator LiCl).The effects of GA on the proliferation,migration,invasion and apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells were detected by plate cloning,Transwell experiment and flow cytometry.WB was applied to detect the effects of GA on the expressions of β-catenin/TCF4 signaling pathway proteins(β-catenin、TCF4)and EMT(E-cadherin,vimentin)-related proteins in SMMC-7721 cells.The model of SMMC-7721 cell transplanted tumor in nude mice was established to observe the effects of GA on the growth of transplanted tumor and the expressions of β-catenin and TCF4 proteins.Results:Compared with the control group,SMMC-7721 cell clonal number,migration and invasion numbers,β-catenin,TCF4 and vmentin protein expressions in the L-GA,M-GA and H-GA groups decreased significantly(all P<0.05),while the apoptosis rate and the expression of E-cadherin protein increased(all P<0.05).Compared with the H-GA group,the numbers of clones,migration and invasion,β-catenin,TCF4 and vimentin protein expressions in the GA+LiCl group increased significantly(all P<0.05),while the apoptosis rate and E-cadherin protein expression decreased significantly(all P<0.05).Tumor-bearing nude mouse model experiment showed that the tumor weight and volume and the positive rates of β-catenin and TCF4 proteins in the GA group were significantly lower than those in the control group(all P<0.05).Conclusion:GA can significantly inhibit the proliferation,migration,invasion,and the EMT process of SMMC-7721 cells,thereby inhibiting the progression of HCC.Its mechanism may be achieved by inhibiting the β-catenin/TCF4 signaling pathway.
