The platinum coordination complex inhibits cell invasion-migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by altering the TGF-β-SMAD pathway in colorectal cancer

Introduction: There is a steady increase in colorectal cancer (CRC) incidences worldwide; at diagnosis, about 20 percent of cases show metastases. The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway is one of the critical pathways that influence the expression of cadherins allowing the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is involved in the progression of the normal colorectal epithelium to adenoma and metastatic carcinoma. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of a novel coordination complex of platinum (salicylaldiminato) PT(II) complex with dimethyl propylene linkage (PT-complex) on TGF-β and EMT markers involved in the invasion and migration of the human HT-29 and SW620 CRC cell lines.Methods: Functional study and wound healing assay showed PT-complex significantly reduced cell motility and the migration and invasion of CRC cell lines compared to the untreated control. Western blot performed in the presence and absence of TGF-β demonstrated that PT-complex significantly regulated the TGF-β-mediated altered expressions of EMT markers.Results and Discussion: PT-complex attenuated the migration and invasion by upregulating the protein expression of EMT-suppressing factor E-cadherin and suppressing EMT-inducing factors such as N-Cadherin and Vimentin. Moreover, PT-complex significantly suppressed the activation of SMAD3 in both CRC cell lines. Further, the microarray data analysis revealed differential expression of genes related to invasion and migration. In conclusion, besides displaying antiproliferative activity, the PT complex can decrease the metastasis of CRC cell lines by modulating TGF-β-regulated EMT markers. These findings provide new insight into TGF-β/SMAD signaling as the molecular mechanism involved in the antitumoral properties of novel PT-complex

Characterization and antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-proliferative activities of green synthesized magnesium oxide nanoparticles with shoot extracts of Plicosepalus curviflorus

Objective: To synthesize magnesium oxide nanoparticles using ethanol extract of shoots of Plicosepalus curviflorus (PC-MgONPs) and evaluate the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-proliferative activities of PC-MgONPs. Methods: The green synthesized PC-MgONPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, zeta potential, energy dispersive X-ray, and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, we investigated total antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial and anti-proliferative activities using breast cancer cell lines (MDA-231). Results: The UV spectrum of PC-MgONPs showed a sharp absorption peak at 300 nm. The presence of magnesium, oxygen, and sodium was confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Scanning electron microscopy revealed PC-MgONPs as roughly spherical granular structures with sizes ranging from 20.0 to 76.4 nm. PC-MgONPs showed considerable antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans with zones of inhibition of 11-17 mm. In addition, total antioxidant capacity and anti-proliferative activity of PC-MgONPs against MDA-231 cells were dose-dependent. Conclusions: The synthesized PC-MgONPs could be a potent antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-cancer agent, which needs further investigation