Quercetin suppresses the invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by upregulating Nm23-H1 expression

Objective To investigate the effect of Nm23-H1 on the invasiveness and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods The expression of Nm23-H1 mRNA and protein in SF7721 cells were measured by RT-PCR or Western blot, respectively, cell invasiveness and cell adhesion were measured by transwell and cell adhesion assay, distribution and abundance of α-tublin and F-actin in cells were measured. Nude mouse model of human hepatocellular carcinoma was intraperitoneally injected with specific drug, the growth, metastasis and expression of Nm23-H1 protein were measured. Results After the treatment by quercetin in concentration and time gradients, Nm23-H1 mRNA (respectively F=169.2, 215.6, all P<0.001) and protein expression level (respectively F=3 530, 2 928, all P<0.001), adhesion ability (respectively F=75.31, 88.06, all P<0.001) of cells were higher than those in control, the invasiveness (respectively F=24.76, 58.89, all P<0.001) of cells were weaker than those in control, the fluorescence intensity of F-actin and α-tublin were weaker than control. After the treatment by spermin, Nm23-H1 mRNA (respectively F=283.1, 623.5, all P<0.001) and protein expression (respectively F=4 083, 171, all P<0.001) were lower than those in control, the invasiveness (respectively F=125.8, 48.18, all P<0.001) was stronger than that in control. Tumor volume and weight in quercetin group, spermin group and control group were 2.07±0.90 vs.6.84±2.15 vs.7.02±2.30. Pulmonary metastasis rate in three groups were 0/8 vs.4/8 vs.5/8, Nm23-H1 protein expression of quercetin and spermin group compared with control was upregulated or downregulated, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion Quercetin can upregulate Nm23-H1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma, and suppress the invasiveness and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Key words: Carcinoma, hepatocellular; Nm23 nucleoside diphosphate kinases; Neoplasm invasiveness