Zerumbone Suppresses Osteopontin-Induced Cell Invasion Through Inhibiting the FAK/AKT/ROCK Pathway in Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer A549 Cells

Lung cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and Korea. We have previously demonstrated that osteopontin (OPN) induces cell invasion through inactivating cofilin. Inactivation of cofilin is mediated by the FAK/AKT/Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) pathway in human nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Zerumbone (1) has been shown to exert anticancer activities. In this study, whether and how 1 affects OPN-induced cell invasion was determined in NSCLC A549 cells. Results from Boyden chamber assays suggested that OPN induced invasion of A549 cells and that 1 strongly suppressed this activity without affecting cell viability. Compound 1 effectively inhibited OPN-induced protein expression of ROCK1, the phosphorylation of LIM kinase 1 and 2 (LIMK1/2), and cofilin. In addition, immunofluorescence staining showed that OPN caused a significant increase in lamellipodia formation at the leading edge of cells. However, 1 dramatically decreased OPN-induced lamellipodia formation. Compound 1 impaired OPN-induced phosphorylation of FAK and AKT, as determined by Western blot analysis. Taken together, these results suggest that 1 causes considerable suppression of OPN-induced cell invasion through inhibiting the FAK/AKT/ROCK pathway in NSCLC A549 cells.