Inhibitory effect of extract of Oratosquilla on migration and vasculogenic mimicry in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line in vitro

AIM: To study the inhibitory effect of the extract of Oratosquilla (EOS) on the migration and vasculogenic mimicry in human poorly differentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-2.METHODS: CNE-2 cells were cultured in the medium with different concentrations of EOS (0 mg/L, 125 mg/L, 250 mg/L and 500 mg/L). The migration of CNE-2 cells and the formation of tube-like structures (TLSs) by CNE-2 cells were determined with wound healing assay and in vitro anti-angiogenesis test, respectively. The formation of TLSs by CNE-2 cells and their structural characteristics were observed by anti-angiogenesis test on the Matrigel. The protein expression of fascin 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was detected by Western blotting.RESULTS: Compared with control group, EOS significantly decreased the migration velocity of CNE-2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. CNE-2 cells formed TLSs on the Matrigel, and the formation of TLSs by CNE-2 cells was inhibited by EOS in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of fascin 1 and VEGF in CNE-2 cells was also decreased after treatment with EOS. A positive correlation between the expression of fascin 1/VEGF and the formation of TLSs by CNE-2 cells was observed.CONCLUSION: CNE-2 cells form TLSs on the Matrigel, and EOS inhibits the migration and vasculogenic mimicry of CNE-2 cells, which are related with down-regulating the expression of fascin 1 and VEGF in CNE-2 cells.