Kallistatin Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Invasion and Promotes Apoptosis in Cervical Cancer Through Blocking NF-κB Signaling

Oncol Res. 2017 May 24;25(5):809-817. doi: 10.3727/096504016X14799180778233. Epub 2016 Nov 24.

Abstract

Kallistatin has been recognized as an endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor and exerts pleiotropic effects in inhibiting tumor growth, migration, apoptosis, and inflammation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the potential role and mechanisms of kallistatin in cervical cancer. We demonstrated that kallistatin effectively inhibited cell proliferation and enhanced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, kallistatin suppressed migration and invasion activities and markedly reduced the expression of matrix-degrading metalloproteinases, progelatinase (MMP-2), MMP-9, and urokinase-type PA (uPA). Kallistatin reversed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and caused the upregulation of epithelial markers such as E-cadherin and inhibited mesenchymal markers such as N-cadherin and vimentin. Moreover, kallistatin led to a marked decrease in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and HIF-1α. In a xenograft mouse model, kallistatin treatment reduced tumor growth. Importantly, kallistatin strikingly impeded NF-κB activation by suppressing IκBα degradation and the level of phosphorylation of p65. Interestingly, similar to kallistatin, treatment with PDTC (an inhibitor of NF-κB) also attenuated cell invasion and migration. Taken together, these findings suggest that kallistatin suppresses cervical cancer cell proliferation, migration, and EMT and promotes cell apoptosis by blocking the NF-κB signaling pathway, suggesting that kallistatin may be a novel therapeutic target for cervical cancer treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Progression
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / drug effects
  • Female
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / metabolism
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / metabolism
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Serpins / pharmacology*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors
  • NF-kappa B
  • Serpins
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • kallistatin
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9