OncoTargets and Therapy (Jul 2019)

Diallyl disulfide inhibits colon cancer metastasis by suppressing Rac1-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition

  • Xia L,
  • Lin J,
  • Su J,
  • Oyang L,
  • Wang H,
  • Tan S,
  • Tang Y,
  • Chen X,
  • Liu W,
  • Luo X,
  • Tian Y,
  • Liang J,
  • Su Q,
  • Liao Q,
  • Zhou Y

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 12
pp. 5713 – 5728

Abstract

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Longzheng Xia,1 Jingguan Lin,1 Jian Su,2 Linda Oyang,1 Heran Wang,1 Shiming Tan,1 Yanyan Tang,1 Xiaoyan Chen,1 Wenbin Liu,1 Xia Luo,1 Yutong Tian,1 Jiaxin Liang,1 Qi Su,2 Qianjin Liao,1 Yujuan Zhou11Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University and Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410013, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 2Cancer Research Institute, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, People’s Republic of ChinaBackground: Prevention of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) provides a novel treatment strategy for tumor metastasis. Our previous studies have shown that diallyl disulfide (DADS) inhibits Ras related C3 botulinum toxin substrate1 (Rac1) expression, being a potential agent that suppresses migration and invasion of colon cancer cells. The study provides information on the underlying mechanisms.Methods: The expression of Rac1 and EMT markers (vimentin, N-cadherin and E-cadherin) in colon cancer samples was detected. Colon cancer cell lines treated with or without DADS were used to examine EMT markers, Rac1 and its related molecules. Various cell functions related to metastasis were performed in vitro, and further confirmed in vivo.Results: Rac1 was highly expressed in colon cancer, and associated with aberrant expression of EMT markers and poor prognosis. Rac1 overexpression induced cell migration and invasion in vitro and metastasis in vivo with down-regulation of E-cadherin and up-regulation of N-cadherin, vimentin, and snail1, whereas inhibition of Rac1 impaired the oncogenic function. DADS suppressed Rac1 expression and activity via inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway, thus suppressing EMT and invasion and migration of colon cancer cells. The tumor inhibition of DADS was enhanced by knockdown of Rac1, but antagonized by overexpression of Rac1. We further found that DADS blocked EMT via targeting the Rac1-mediated PAK1-LIMK1-Cofilins signaling.Conclusion: Rac1 is a potential target molecule for the inhibitory effect of DADS on EMT and invasion and metastasis of colon cancer cells.Keywords: colon cancer, diallyl disulfide, Ras related C3 botulinum toxin substrate1, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis

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