Physcion inhibits the metastatic potential of human colorectal cancer SW620 cells in vitro by suppressing the transcription factor SOX2
Authors: Jun-li Ye
Hui Gao
Chun-bo Wang
Xue-hong Chen
Yan-tao Han
Journal: Acta Pharmacologica Sinica (2016)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: Physcion; metastatic potential; colorectal cancer cells; inhibition; EMT process
Affiliations: Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.

Abstract:  Aim: Physcion, an anthraquinone derivative, exhibits hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-cancer activities. In this study we examined whether and how physcion inhibited metastatic potential of human colorectal cancer cells in vitro. Methods: Human colorectal cancer cell line SW620 was tested. Cell migration and invasion were assessed using a wound healing and Transwell assay, respectively. The expression levels of transcription factor SOX2 in the cells were modulated with shRNA targeting SOX2 and SOX2 overexpressing plasmid. The expression of target molecules involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and the signaling pathways was determined with Western blots or qRT-PCR. ROS levels were measured using DCF-DA. Results: Physcion (2.5, 5 mol/L) did not affect the cell viability, but dose-dependently inhibited the cell adhesion, migration and invasion. Physcion also inhibited the EMT process in the cells, as evidenced by the increased epithelial marker E-cadherin expression, and by decreased expression of mesenchymal markers N-cadherin, vimentin, fibronectin and α-SMA, as well as transcriptional repressors Snail, Slug and Twist. Physcion suppressed the expression of SOX2, whereas overexpression of SOX2 abrogated the inhibition of physcion on metastatic behaviors. Physcion markedly increased ROS production and phosphorylation of AMPK and GSK3β in the cells, whereas the AMPK inhibitor compound C or the ROS inhibitor NAC abolished the inhibition of physcion on metastatic behaviors. Conclusion: Physcion inhibits the metastatic potential of human colorectal cancer cells in vitro via activating ROS/AMPK/GSK3β signaling pathways and suppressing SOX2. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 From the authors correction file [] , it is uncommon to see a set of forward-backward J-V scans having different voltage steps when characterizing a solar cell. This is because what is usually done is to set a lowest voltage, a highest voltage and a voltage step to scan one set of J-V curves from forward direction to backward direction (or the other way around). Also each voltage set for forward and backward scans seems different when looking into the data provided in the ppt, except for V = 0 V. Fig 5 in this article is a typical example with equal voltage steps but Extended Data Fig 10d shows data points with non-equal voltage steps when close to V = 0 V. Fig 5 ![] Extended Data Fig 10d ![] , 
 One more finding regarding Extended Data Fig 10d, the data points shown in the reverse scans for light and dark (solid magenta diamond) don t seem to be corresponding to each other, is there any more data points missing in the reverse scan? The authors in their latest correction mentioned only the forward scan has data missing. [doi.org 10.1038 s41586-020-2272-2] Fig 10d ![] ![] ,