Effects of extract of Oratosquilla on expression of P53, COX-2 and VEGF in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line

AIM: To study the inhibitory effect of the extract of Oratosquilla(EOS) on the expression of P53, cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-2Z.METHODS: CNE-2Z cells were treated with different concentrations of EOS for 24 h. The methods of RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry were used to detect the expression of COX-2 and VEGF at mRNA and protein levels, respectively. The protein expression of P53 was determined by Western blotting.RESULTS: After treated with EOS, the protein expression of P53 in CNE-2Z cells was decreased(P<0.01), and the expression of COX-2 and VEGF at mRNA and protein levels was also significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.01). The expression of COX-2 was positively correlated with that of VEGF(P<0.05), and a positive correlation between the expression of COX-2 and P53 protein(P<0.05) was also observed.CONCLUSION: EOS may play its antitumor effect by inhibiting the expression of P53, COX-2 and VEGF in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-2Z.