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Hydroxytyrosol inhibits cancer stem cells and the metastatic capacity of triple-negative breast cancer cell lines by the simultaneous targeting of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, Wnt/β-catenin and TGFβ signaling pathways

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Abstract

Purpose

This study was aimed to determine the impact of hydroxytyrosol (HT), a minor compound found in olive oil, on breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) and the migration capacity of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines through the alteration of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and embryonic signaling pathways.

Methods

BCSCs self-renewal was determined by the mammosphere-forming efficiency in SUM159PT, BT549, MDA-MB-231 and Hs578T TNBC cell lines. Flow cytometric analysis of CD44+/CD24−/low and aldehyde dehydrogenase positive (ALDH+) subpopulations, migration by the “wound healing assay”, invasion and Western blot of EMT markers and TGFβ signaling were investigated in SUM159PT, BT549 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Wnt/β-catenin signaling was assessed by Western blot in BT549 cells expressing WNT1 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Changes in TGFβ activity was determined by SMAD Binding Element (SBE) reporter assay.

Results

HT reduced BCSCs self-renewal, ALDH+ (aldehyde dehydrogenase) and CD44+/CD24−/low subpopulations, tumor cell migration and invasion. Consistently, HT suppressed Wnt/β-catenin signaling by decreasing p-LRP6, LRP6, β-catenin and cyclin D1 protein expression and the EMT markers SLUG, ZEB1, SNAIL and VIMENTIN. Finally, HT inhibited p-SMAD2/3 and SMAD2/3 in SUM159PT, BT549 and MDA-MB-231 cells, what was correlated with a less TGFβ activity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we report for the first time the inhibitory role of HT on BCSCs and tumor cell migration by targeting EMT, Wnt/β-catenin and TGFβ signaling pathways. Our findings highlight the importance of the chemopreventive compound HT as a novel candidate to be investigated as an alternative targeted therapy for TNBC.

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Acknowledgements

Funding was provided by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CP14/00197, PI15/00336, PIE16/00045), European Regional Development Fund (European Union), and the Chair “Doctors Galera-Requena in Cancer Stem Cell Research”.

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Cruz-Lozano, M., González-González, A., Marchal, J.A. et al. Hydroxytyrosol inhibits cancer stem cells and the metastatic capacity of triple-negative breast cancer cell lines by the simultaneous targeting of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, Wnt/β-catenin and TGFβ signaling pathways. Eur J Nutr 58, 3207–3219 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-018-1864-1

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