Baicalin inhibits the migration of human gastric cancer MGC-803 and BGC-823 cells and its molecular mechanism

Objective: To observe the effect of baicalin on the migration of human gastric cancer cell lines MGC-803 and BGC-823, and to explore the possible mechanism. Methods: The migration ability of MGC-803 and BGC-823 cells treated with baicalin (40 μmol/L) was detected by cell wound healing test and Transwell chamber migration assay. The expression levels of p53, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP3) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3) mRNAs and proteins in MGC-803 and BGC-823 cells treated with different concentrations of baicalin (80, 120 and 160 μmol/L) were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blotting, respectively.Results: The migration abilities of MGC-803 and BGC-823 cells after baicalin treatment were significantly decreased (both P < 0.01). The expression levels of p53, PTEN and TIMP3 mRNAs and proteins in MGC-803 and BGC-823 cells treated with baicalin were significantly up-regulated (all P < 0.01), whereas the expression levels of MMP3 mRNA and protein were down-regulated (both P < 0.01). Conclusion: Baicalin can significantly inhibit the migration of human gastric cancer BGC-823 and MGC-803 cells, and its mechanism may be related to up-regulating the expressions of p53, PTEN and TIMP3 and down-regulating the expression of MMP3. DOI:10.3781/j.issn.1000-7431.2016.11.444