Yulangsan polysaccharide inhibits 4T1 breast cancer cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in vitro and in vivo

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2019-01, Vol.121, p.971-980
• Main Authors: Qin, Ni, Lu, Shiyin, Chen, Ning, Chen, Chunxia, Xie, Qiuqiao, Wei, Xiaojie, Ye, Fangxing, He, Junhui, Li, Yuchun, Chen, Lixiu, Jiang, Luhui, Lu, Xiaoqi, Yuan, Yuchan, Li, Jian, Jiao, Yang, Huang, Renbin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 4T1; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacology; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; bcl-2-Associated X Protein - metabolism; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Caspase 3 - metabolism; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - drug effects; Humans; Mice; Millettia - chemistry; Polysaccharide; Polysaccharides - pharmacology; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - metabolism; Tumor-bearing model; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; Yulangsan
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.10.082

Yulangsan polysaccharide (YLSPS) is derived from the root of Millettia pulchra (Benth.) Kurz var. Recent studies have postulated YLSPS as a regimen for cancer treatment. However, the underlying mechanism anti-breast cancer is still poorly unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the suppressive and apoptosis effect of YLSPS on the growth of breast cancer cell 4T1 and its possible underlying mechanism. In this study, breast cancer cell 4T1 viability and apoptosis were assessed by CCK-8 and flow cytometry, relative quantitative real-time PCR and western blot after treated with drug-serum of YLSPS. Furthermore, therapy experiments were conducted using a Balb/c mouse transplanted tumor model of breast cancer. The number of apoptotic cells and microvascular density (MVD) in the tumor tissues were assessed by TUNEL and CD34 immunostaining. Immunohistochemical assays and ELISA were used to detect the expression of VEGF, Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 in the tissues. The in vitro studies showed that the drug-serum of YLSPS significantly inhibition of proliferation and effectively induced apoptosis of 4T1 cells. Oral administration of YLSPS in the breast cancer models significantly reduced the tumor volume and weight. The enhanced antitumor efficacy was associated with decreased angiogenesis, an enhanced antioxidant capacity, an increased induction of apoptosis and an inhibition of lung metastasis. These findings indicate that YLSPS significantly inhibited mouse breast cancer growth in vitro and in vivo. These data suggest that YLSPS may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for breast cancer. [Display omitted] •Inhibits 4T1 cell proliferation and induces apoptosis effect of YLSPS was characterized for the first time.•In vitro combined with tumor-bearing mice model to confirm the effect of YLSPS on breast cancer.•YLSPS-serum significantly induced apoptosis of 4T1 cells, which related to Bcl-2, Bax and cleaved Caspase-3.•Administration of YLSPS in tumor-bearing model significantly reduced the tumor volume and weight.