Regulation of valproic acid induced EMT by AKT/GSK3 beta/beta-catenin signaling pathway in triple negative breast cancer

Abstract

Valproic acid (VPA) is a selective histone deacetylation (HDAC) inhibitor and exerts anti-cancer properties in different types of cancer. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mediating by different signaling cascade can be a potential target in aggressive human cancers. Therefore, we aimed to clarified the unravel relationship between AKT/GSK3 beta/beta-catenin signalling pathway and VPA-induced EMT in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). The cytotoxicity of VPA in MDA-MB-231 TNBC and MCF-10A control cells was evaluated. Alterations in the expression levels of Snail, E-cadherin, AKT, GSK3 beta, beta-catenin were analyzed by RT-PCR. Additionally, Annexin V, cell cycle and wound healing assays were performed. Our results showed that VPA remarkably inhibited the growth of TNBC cell and triggered apoptotic cell death through G0/G1 arrest. Furthermore, VPA increased cell migration and activated the EMT process through significantly increasing Snail expression and in turn downregulation of E-cadherin and GKS3 beta levels. However, the level of AKT and beta-catenin was reduced after treatment of VPA. Our data showed that VPA induced EMT process and cell migration in TNBC cells. However, AKT/GSK3 beta/beta-catenin signaling pathway did not mediate EMT activation.