The Effect of Resveratrol and Quercetin on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell

Nutr Cancer. 2020;72(7):1231-1242. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2019.1670853. Epub 2019 Oct 9.

Abstract

Resveratrol and quercetin are phytochemicals that are found in a variety of plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of resveratrol and quercetin on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of CD133+ and CD133- pancreatic cancer cells. Cancer stem cells (CD133+ cells) were obtained from the PANC-1 cells by the MiniMACS system. CD133+ and CD133- PANC-1 cells were treated with different concentrations (5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 µM) of resveratrol and quercetin. Cell growth and cytotoxicity were evaluated by MTT assay. Anticancer and anti-metastatic properties of resveratrol and quercetin were determined by immunocytochemistry using antibodies (ACTA-2, IL-1β, N-cadherin, TNF-α, and vimentin). The immunostaining intensity of CD133+ cells was stronger than CD133- cells. ACTA-2, IL-1β, and N-cadherin immunoreactivities were significantly decreased, whereas TNF-α and vimentin immunoreactivities significantly increased in quercetin-treated CD133+ cells. Moreover, N-cadherin and TNF-α immunoreactivities significantly decreased in resveratrol-treated CD133+ cells. The reduction in N-cadherin and ACTA-2 immunoreactivities was higher than the increase in vimentin immunoreactivity, quercetin could prevent EMT to a greater extent than resveratrol in pancreatic cancer stem cells because of the reduced expression of N-cadherin. Quercetin could be more effective in inhibiting metastasis compared to resveratrol.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Quercetin / pharmacology*
  • Resveratrol / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Vimentin / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cadherins
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Vimentin
  • Quercetin
  • Resveratrol