The Journal of Practical Medicine ›› 2024, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (1): 59-64.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2024.01.011

• Basic Research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The mechanism of emodin inhibiting YAP1 and FOXD1 in gastric cancer AGS cells and its related study

Tian GU1,2,Chunhong LIU2,Fei ZHANG2,Wei QIAN2,Yanqiu ZHU1,Mingliang CHU1(),Jiemin. LIU3()   

  1. *.Clinical Lab,the First Affiliated Hospital,Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Guiyang 550001,China
  • Received:2023-06-12 Online:2024-01-10 Published:2024-01-24
  • Contact: Mingliang CHU,Jiemin. LIU E-mail:chumingliang@foxmail.com;liujiemin@126.com

Abstract:

Objective To explore the possible mechanism of emodin in inhibiting proliferation, migration, and invasion of AGS cells and in suppressing the expressions of YAP1 and FOXD1. Methods Normal gastric cell GES-1 and gastric cancer cell AGS were cultured with different concentrations of emodin. CCK8 test, scratch test and Transwell assay were used to verify changes in the biological phenotype of AGS cells. TCGA database was applied to analyze expressions of HK2, YAP1 and FOXD1 in gastric cancer tissues and normal gastric tissues. Western blotting method was used to detect the impacts of emodin on HK2,YAP1 and FOXD1 proteins in AGS cells. Exogenous pyruvic acid was added to verify the changes in YAP1 and FOXD1. Results The IC50 of emodin was significantly higher in GES-1 cells than in AGS cells (P < 0.05). CCK8 proliferation test, scratch test, and Transwell assay showed that emodin significantly inhibited the biological abilities of AGS (P < 0.05 for comparisons). Analysis on the TCGA bioinformatics database found that the expression of key enzymes HK2 in the glycolysis pathway and oncogenes YAP1 and FOXD1 was significantly higher in gastric cancer tissues than in normal gastric tissues (P < 0.05 for comparisons). Emodin significantly inhibited the protein expressions of key glycolytic enzymes HK2 and oncogenes YAP1 and FOXD1 (P < 0.05 for comparisons). With supplement of exogenous glycolytic metabolite pyruvate, the protein expressions of oncogenes YAP1 and FOXD1 significantly increased (P < 0.05 for comparisons). Conclusions Emodin has a significant pharmacological inhibitory effect on gastric cancer AGS cells, markedly suppressing their biological phenotype. Emodin not only significantly inhibits the key enzyme HK2 in glycolysis metabolism, but also the protein expressions of oncogenes YAP1 and FOXD1. With the addition of exogenous pyruvate to enhance the glycolytic metabolic pathway, the protein expressions of oncogenes YAP1 and FOXD1 significantly increased. The above results suggest a close association of YAP1 and FOXD1 with glycolytic metabolism. Emodin may inhibit oncogenes YAP1 and FOXD1 through the glycolytic metabolism of gastric cancer AGS cells.

Key words: emodin, gastric cancer, HK2, YAP1, FOXD1, glycolytic metabolism

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