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Spirulina phycocyanin extract and its active components suppress epithelial-mesenchymal transition process in

Hsin-Yuan Chen1, Yi-Fen Chiang2, Chun-Yung Huang3

  • 1School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Department of Nutrition, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan.

Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapie
|June 12, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Spirulina phycocyanin extract (SPE) and its components inhibit endometrial cancer metastasis by reversing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). These compounds target the TGFβ/SMADs pathway, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for aggressive endometrial cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Natural Products Chemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Metastasis in endometrial cancer presents a significant clinical challenge, linked to high recurrence rates and poor prognosis.
  • Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), driven by the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) pathway, is a key mechanism facilitating tumor metastasis.
  • Spirulina phycocyanin extract (SPE) and its purified components, allophycocyanin (APC) and C-phycocyanin (C-PC), are natural compounds with potential anti-cancer properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the anti-metastatic effects of SPE, APC, and C-PC on endometrial cancer.
  • To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, particularly the involvement of the TGFβ/SMADs signaling pathway and EMT markers.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro studies utilized human endometrial cancer cell lines (HEC-1A, Ishikawa) with MTT and transwell migration assays.
  • In vivo studies employed a HEC-1A xenograft mouse model, with IVIS XRMS analysis for metastasis tracking.
  • Molecular analyses included immunoblotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to assess EMT markers and signaling pathway components.

Main Results:

  • SPE, APC, and C-PC significantly inhibited endometrial cancer cell migration in vitro.
  • These compounds reversed EMT phenotypes by modulating the expression of EMT-related markers.
  • The anti-metastatic effects were associated with the downregulation of the TGFβ/SMADs signaling pathway.
  • In vivo, SPE demonstrated a significant repression of tumor metastasis in the xenograft model.

Conclusions:

  • SPE and its purified components, APC and C-PC, exhibit potent anti-metastatic activity against endometrial cancer.
  • The mechanism involves the reversal of EMT through targeted inhibition of the TGFβ/SMADs signaling pathway.
  • These findings suggest that SPE and its components represent a promising nutraceutical therapeutic strategy for managing metastatic endometrial cancer.
Keywords:
AllophycocyaninC-phycocyaninEndometrial cancerEpithelial–mesenchymal transitionTransforming growth factor betaspirulina phycocyanin extract

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