†These authors contributed equally.
Academic Editor: Josef Jampilek
Background: The interactions between platelets and tumor cells are
well-known to play important roles in the progression of malignant tumors.
Danshensu, a main water-soluble component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, can
resist platelet aggregation and exert significant anti-tumor effects on various
types of tumors. However, whether Danshensu could inhibit the progression of
malignant tumors by suppressing the activities of platelets had not been
reported. Methods: The effects of Danshensu on the platelet activity and
epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT)-like invasive phenotype of SW620
colon cancer cells were assessed by stimulating with the supernatants from
co-cultured platelets and SW620 cells with direct contact (SCP). The expression
and secretion of proteins were determined by western blot and enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining
was performed to analyzed the histopathology of tumor tissues and
immunohistochemical staining was conducted to examine the protein expression in
tumors. Results: Co-incubation of SW620 cells with platelets directly or
SCP both generated long spindle-shaped invasive phenotype. Pretreatment of
platelets with Danshensu (25