Minecoside Modulates Cell Invasion via Regulation of CXCR4 Expression in Breast and Colon Cancer Cells

Metastasis, which is closely linked to cancer-related deaths, is a highly complex process. It is an organ-specific process and involves interactions between the host and Cancer cells. CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 is known to be expressed in various tumors and the binding with CXC ligand 12 induces signaling in Cancer cell survival, migration, and proliferation. Particularly, the CXC Chemokine Receptor 4/CXC ligand 12 axis is known to promote the metastasis of breast Cancer. Thus, agents that can downregulate CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 expression have potential against Cancer metastasis. Minecoside is an active compound extracted from Veronica peregrina L. It is widely distributed in Korea and has been used as a traditional drug for the treatment of various chronic diseases. However, the Anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects of minecoside have yet to be clarified. In this study, we found that minecoside downregulates constitutive CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 expression in MDA-MB-231 breast Cancer cells. This downregulation also occurred at the transcriptional level. Minecoside-mediated suppression of CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 expression inhibited CXC ligand 12-induced invasion of breast and colorectal Cancer cells. Overall, our results suggest that minecoside can be a novel Anticancer agent that can inhibit Cancer metastasis through inhibition of CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 expression.