Umbelliferone inhibits proliferation and metastasis via modulating cadherin/β-catenin complex-aided cell-cell adhesion in glioblastoma cells.

Abstract

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive brain tumor malignancy in adults, accounting for nearly 50% of all gliomas. Current medications for GBM frequently lead to drug resistance.

Objectives: Umbelliferone (UMB) is found extensively in many plants and shows numerous pharmacological actions against inflammation, degenerative diseases and cancers. However, its anticancer effects on GBM cells have not yet been explored.

Material and methods: This research intended to assess the antitumor efficacy of UMB and the molecular mechanism of cell-cell adhesion proteins in human U-87 GBM cells. The cytotoxicity assay, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), cell adhesion proteins, and cell apoptosis actions of UMB were assessed using 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA), 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB), and western blot.

Results: The findings revealed that UMB reduced the proliferation of GBM cells and cell adhesion proteins, while augmenting apoptosis through the elevation of cellular ROS. Bcl-2 family protein levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL were mitigated; conversely, the pro-apoptotic proteins Bad and Bim were elevated upon treatment with UMB in a quantity-dependent way. Furthermore, UMB-treated GBM cells suppressed N-cadherin, β-catenin, Slug, and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) expression, whereas they showed enhanced TIMP protein and E-cadherin levels.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that UMB can prevent proliferation and metastasis and stimulate apoptosis in GBM cells.