Ursodeoxycholic acid inhibits epithelial‑mesenchymal transition, suppressing invasiveness of bile duct cancer cells: An <em>in vitro</em> study

Lee,Jin; Hong,Eun Mi; Kim,Jung Han; Kim,Jung Hee; Jung,Jang Han; Park,Se Woo; Koh,Dong Hee

doi:10.3892/ol.2022.13568

Ursodeoxycholic acid inhibits epithelial‑mesenchymal transition, suppressing invasiveness of bile duct cancer cells: An in vitro study

Authors:
- Jin Lee
- Eun Mi Hong
- Jung Han Kim
- Jung Hee Kim
- Jang Han Jung
- Se Woo Park
- Dong Hee Koh
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Affiliations: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Hwasung, Gyunggi‑Do 18450, Republic of Korea, Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul 07441, Republic of Korea
Published online on: October 26, 2022 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2022.13568
Article Number: 448
Copyright: © Lee et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) features are associated with pathological severity in the progression and metastasis of various cancer types, including bile duct cancer (BDC). Our previous study demonstrated that ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) blocked the EGFR‑MAPK signaling pathway and inhibited the invasion of BDC cells. The present study was performed to determine whether UDCA inhibits EMT and promotes the expression of E‑cadherin to inhibit the invasion and aggressiveness of BDC. In addition, the present study aimed to confirm that the primary mechanism of inhibition of EMT by UDCA is related to the EGFR axis. Human extrahepatic BDC cells were cultured. The effect of UDCA on cell proliferation was evaluated using MTT assays. A cell death ELISA kit was used to measure apoptosis, and western blot assays or immunofluorescence staining assays measured the expression levels of various target proteins. The mRNA expression of Slug and ZEB1 was evaluated via reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR. The invasiveness of BDC cells was estimated by invasion assays and western blot assays for focal adhesion kinase (FAK). UDCA inhibited the proliferation of BDC cells as effectively as gefitinib (an EGFR inhibitor), and the combination of UDCA and gefitinib revealed an additive effect on the proliferation of cells. UDCA and gefitinib induced apoptosis, and the combination of UDCA and gefitinib demonstrated an additive effect on apoptosis in BDC cells. UDCA restored the E‑cadherin expression inhibited by EGF and suppressed N‑cadherin expression increased by EGF as effectively as gefitinib. UDCA suppressed the Slug and ZEB1 mRNA expression induced by EGF in BDC cells. UDCA suppressed the invasiveness of BDC cells and FAK expression linked to the invasiveness of BDC. In conclusion, UDCA enhanced E‑cadherin expression and suppressed N‑cadherin expression through inhibition of the EGF‑EGFR axis, contributing to the inhibition of EMT and invasiveness in BDC cells. Therefore, UDCA may be applied as an adjuvant or palliative antineoplastic agent and as a therapeutic option to enhance the effect of other chemotherapeutics.

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