Baicalein Inhibits Metastatic Phenotypes in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells via a Focal Adhesion Protein Integrin β8

       Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) originates from the epithelial cells of the nasopharynx. A high incidence is found in China and the Southeast Asia including Thailand. Here we investigated the effects of baicalein on NPC metastatic potentials, including cell migration, invasion, and adhesion, and elucidated the corresponding molecular pathways through genome-wide transcriptome analysis with the validation of a target protein candidate. We found the inhibitory effect of baicalein on NPC cell migration, invasion, and adhesion. In addition, we unveiled that the downregulation of integrin β8, one of the key cell adhesion proteins in the focal adhesion and PI3K/Akt pathways, as evidenced in both gene and protein expression levels. Thus, we propose integrin β8 as a potential targeted protein in NPC in response to baicalein exposure, and it can be used as a therapeutic marker in the forthcoming NPC treatment.

Reference:

Kiatwuthinon P, Narkthong T, Ngaokrajang U, Kumkate S, Janvilisri T. Baicalein Inhibits Metastatic Phenotypes in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells via a Focal Adhesion Protein Integrin β8. Pharmaceuticals. 2022; 15(1):5. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15010005

DOI: 10.3390/ph15010005