Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Oxymatrine inhibits proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells by inhibiting miRNA-188 and upregulating its target gene, PTEN

Xiaoying Ma¹, Zijiang Sang¹, Qinghua Zhang², Wenbiao Ma¹

¹Surgical Oncology Ward 2 (Breast and Thyroid Surgery), Qinghai Provincial People's Hospital, Xining, China; ²Department of Interventional Ultralsound, Qinghai Provincial People's Hospital, Xining, China.

For correspondence:- Wenbiao Ma Email: MWBLJ@163.com Tel:+869718065169

Accepted: 25 October 2021 Published: 30 November 2021

Citation: Ma X, Sang Z, Zhang Q, Ma W. Oxymatrine inhibits proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells by inhibiting miRNA-188 and upregulating its target gene, PTEN. Trop J Pharm Res 2021; 20(11):2267-2272 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v20i11.5

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© 2021 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To explore the potential biological functions of oxymatrine on breast cancer (BCa) cells and the underlying molecular mechanism.

Methods: Relative levels of microRNA-188 (miRNA-188) and PTEN (gene of phosphate and tension homology deleted on chromosome ten) in BCa cells, MDA-MB-231 and TB549, were determined. The influence of oxymatrine treatment, miRNA-188 and PTEN on proliferative and migratory abilities in BCa cells were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assay, respectively. The binding relationship between miRNA-188 and PTEN was evaluated by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay.

Results: Oxymatrine downregulated miRNA-188 and upregulated PTEN in BCa cells. Proliferative and migratory activities in BCa were inhibited by treatment of oxymatrine (p < 0.05). Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay results indicated that PTEN was the target gene of miRNA-188. Furthermore, rescue experiments demonstrated that the regulatory loop, oxymatrine/miRNA-188/PTEN, was involved in the regulation of the migration and proliferation of BCa.

Conclusion: Oxymatrine treatment inhibits BCa progression by downregulating miRNA-188, leading to the upregulation of PTEN. The results of the current study may provide new insight into the diagnosis and treatment of BCa.

Keywords: Breast cancer, Oxymatrine, MicroRNAs, Signaling pathway, Proliferation, Migration