Therapeutic Effect of Curcumol on Chronic Atrophic Gastritis (CAG) and Gastric Cancer Is Achieved by Downregulating SDF-1α/CXCR4/VEGF Expression

Abstract

CAG is an essential procession of the transformation from gastritis into gastric cancer. A series of timely moves of diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring towards CAG to anticipate the potential population at risk of gastric cancer is an effective means to prevent gastric cancer occurrence. The main active monomer in Fuzheng Huowei Decoction is Curcumol, which is an indispensable ingredient in the treatment to CAG and gastric cancer. In this study, the CAG model, in vitro cultured gastric cancer cells, and participating nude mice were treated with Curcumol, and alterations in SDF-1α/CXCR4/VEGF expression were estimated using the assays of immunohistochemistry and Western blot. MTT, flow cytometry, transwell, HE staining, and tumor volume determination were applied for the verification of the regulatory effects of Curcumol on CAG and gastric cancer cells. The results showed that the expressions of VEGF, SDF-1α, CXCR4, and CD34 decreased in our CAG model with Curcumol treatment. Curcumol is in procession of an inhibitory effect toward the activity, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells, and it would also result in gastric cancer cells’ apoptosis. We subsequently added SDF-1α overexpressing lentivirus to the Curcumol-treated group and found that the expressions of SDF-1α, CXCR4, and VEGF protein increased, and the inhibitory effect of Curcumol on gastric cancer cells was withdrawn. Our nude mouse experiment showed that Curcumol + SDF-1α group ended up with the largest tumor volume, while Fuzheng Huowei + NC group was with the smallest tumor volume. In conclusion, Curcumol is able to effectively protect the gastric tissue and suppress gastric cancer cells’ viability. Curcumol functions as a therapeutic factor in chronic atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer by downregulating SDF-1α/CXCR4/VEGF expression.