[Oxymatrine Diminished the Side Population and Inhibited Wnt/p-catenin Signaling Pathway in MCF- 7 Breast Cancer Cells].

Objective To observe the effects of oxymatrine (OM) in inhibiting the proliferation and percentage of cancer stem cell like cell of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, and to study its molecular mechanism. Methods MCF-7 cells were taken as subject. Side population cells (SP) of cancer stem cell like cells rich in MCF-7 cells were isolated using side population (SP) method. The proliferation properties of SP cells and non-side population (non-SP) cells were detected by MTT assay. The proliferation and intervention of cisplatin (DDP) and OM at various concentrations were detected as well. The ex- pression levels of β-catenin gene and protein were detected using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence technique. Results (1) OM in different concentrations had various inhibitions to the proliferation of subpopulations of MCF-7 cells. Of them, it had weakest inhibition on non-SP cells, weaker inhibition on unsorted cells, and strongest inhibition on SP cells. DDP in different concentrations had strongest inhibition on non-SP cells, weaker inhibition on unsorted cells, and weakest inhibition on SP cells. (2) SP cells accounted for 3. 1%, 1. 7%, and 0. 2% of the total cells after OM acted at 0. 25, 0. 50, 1. 00 mg/mL, respectively. The expression rate of phosphorylated β-catenin was 42. 62% ±2. 62% after SP cells were ac- ted by OM, with statistical difference as compared with the blank control group [ (22. 8% ±1. 66%) ,P < 0. 01]. (3) Compared with SP cells without OM treatment, the expression of β-catenin in OM treated SP cells was obviously reduced. Besides, they were specifically distributed under the cytomembrane, with nuclear translocation obviously reduced. Conclusion OM could intervene biological behaviors of cancer stem cell like cell of MCF-7 cells possibly through Inhibiting the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.