Fucoxanthin induces apoptosis and reverses epithelial-mesenchymal transition via inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin pathway in lung adenocarcinoma

Background: Invasion and metastasis are hallmark characteristics of Cancer and the main causes of death in Cancer patients. Studies have shown that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays significant role in tumor invasion and metastasis. Fucoxanthin, a carotenoid found in seaweeds, has been proved to have anti-tumor effects. Our study aimed to research the role of fucoxanthin on proliferation, Apoptosis, migration and EMT of two types of LUAD cells.

Methods: Cell migration and invasion were examined by Wound-healing and Transwell assays. Western blot assay was used to detect the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins, EMT-related proteins and β-catenin. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of β-catenin in human lung adenocarcinoma tissues and corresponding para-cancerous tissues.

Results: Our results revealed that fucoxanthin depressed the proliferation and induced Apoptosis in A549 and NCI-H1299 cells. Moreover, fucoxanthin reversed TGF-β1-induced EMT and cell motility. Meanwhile, we disclosed that fucoxanthin and XAV939 had similar effect on β-catenin, EMT protein and cell motility. What is more, immunohistochemical results revealed that the high expression rate and abnormal expression rate of β-catenin in Cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in para-cancerous tissues.

Conclusion: Taken together, the findings of our research highlight a novel role for fucoxanthin in NSCLC cells, which might be a potentially effective anti-tumor agent for the treatment of LUAD patients.