Antiangiogenic effect of berberineα-hydroxy-δ-decanoylethyl sulfonate on Lewis lung carcinoma

OBJECTIVE To investigate the antiangiogenic and antitumor effects of berberineα-hydroxy-δ-decanoylethyl sulfonate(HB)in vitro and in vivo.METHODS MTT assay was employed to determine the proliferation of tumor cells.Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of VEGF and MMP-9.Transwell co-culture was used to determine the cell migration at the conditioned medium of Lewis lung carcinoma cells exposed to HB for 24 h.The C57BL/6 mice bearing Lewis lung carcinomas were treated with vehicle,different doses of HB(60,90 and 120mg·kg-1,ig)for 20 d,or cyclophosphamide(50mg·kg-1,ig)at d 1,d 8 and d 15.Afterwards,the xenografted tumors were exercised and weighed,and the lung metastasis was determined by HE stainingof the lung tissues.Tumor angiogenesis was determined by CD34 staining and microvessel density(MVD)by immunohistochemistry.RESULTSHB inhibited the growth of Lewis lung carcinoma cells in a time-dependent manner with IC50 value of 8.87,2.26 and 0.98mg·L-1,respectively when the cells were treated with HB for 24,48 and 72h.Cell migration induced by the conditioned medium of Lewis lung carcinoma cells treated with 2.5,5 and 10mg·L-1 HB was reduced by 37%,54% and 63%respectively(P<0.01).HB suppressed the expression of angiogenesis factors in a concentration-dependent manner.HB was effective in inhibition of MMP-9 expression at 5,10 and 20mg·L-1(P<0.05),whereas HB 20mg·L-1 was minimal effective concentration in inhibition of VEGF expression(P<0.01).On C57BL/6 mice bearing Lewis lung carcinomas,HB significantly reduced the tumor burden and MVD in tumor mass as well as inhibited lung metastasis at doses of 90 and 120mg·kg-1.CONCLUSION HB produces reliable antiangiogenic effect,inhibits the growth and metastasis of Lewis lung carcinoma.These effects may be attributed to its ability of suppressing the expression of VEGF and MMP-9,and reducing MVD.