Wheatgrass extract inhibits hypoxia-inducible factor-l-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition in A549 cells

作者：Do Nam Yong; Shin Hyun Jae; Lee Ji Eun^*

来源：Nutrition Research and Practice, 2017, 11(2): 83-89.

DOI：10.4162/nrp.2017.11.2.83

• Triticum
• epithelial-mesenchymal transition
• sinusitis
• hypoxia inducible factor 1
• cadherins

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in not only cancer development and metastasis but also non-cancerous conditions. Hypoxia is one of the proposed critical factors contributing to formation of chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal polyposis. Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum) has antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we analyzed whether wheatgrass has an inhibitory effect on the EMT process in airway epithelial cells.
MATERIALS/METHODS: A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells were incubated in hypoxic conditions (CO2 5%/O-2 1%) for 24 h in the presence of different concentrations of wheatgrass extract (50, 75, 100, and 150 mu g/mL) and changes in expression of epithelial or mesenchymal markers were evaluated by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. Accordingly, associated EMT-related transcriptional factors, Snail and Smad, were also evaluated.
RESULTS: Hypoxia increased expression of N-cadherin and reduced expression of E-cadherin. Mechanistically, E-cadherin levels were recovered during hypoxia by silencing hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1 alpha or administering wheatgrass extract. Wheatgrass inhibited the hypoxia-mediated EMT by reducing the expression of phosphorylated Smad3 (pSmad3) and Snail. It suppressed the hypoxia-mediated EMT processes of airway epithelial cells via HIF-1 alpha and the pSmad3 signaling pathway.
CONCLUSION: These results suggest that wheatgrass has potential as a therapeutic or supplementary agent for HIF-1-related diseases.

• 出版日期2017-4