Effect Of Calycosin On Migration Of Human Breast Cancer Cell MCF-7 In Vitro And The Expression Regulation Of Related Genes

Objective: To explore the effects and mechanism of calycosin on migration of human breast cancer cell MCF-7 in vitro. Methods: Effects of calycosin( 0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 150μM) on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells were determined by3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT)assay. Next, MCF-7 cells were treated with high concentrations of calycosin(25, 50, 100 and 150μM), and cell migration was measured by transwell assay. The mRNA and protein levels of forkhead box P3(FOXP3), vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and matrix metalloprotein-9(MMP-9) in calycosin-treated MCF-7 cells were respectively determined by Real time-PCR and Western blot. Results:Calycosin plays a dual role in proliferation of MCF-7 cells: low concentrations of calycosin(≤12.5μM) stimulated MCF-7 cell proliferation, while high concentrations of calycosin(≥25μM) inhibited cell proliferation. Furthermore, transwell assay showed that the presence of high concentrations of calycosin induced decrease of migratory capacity of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05). Inaddition, when compared with control group, calycosin significantly downregulated both mRNA and protein levels of FOXP3, VEGF and MMP-9 in MCF-7 cells at high concentrations(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion: Calycosin could exert its anti-cancer effects through inhibition of MCF-7 cell migration at high concentrations, which may relate to downregulated expression of FOXP3, VEGF and MMP-9.