IMR Press / FBL / Volume 28 / Issue 11 / DOI: 10.31083/j.fbl2811311
Open Access Original Research
Kaempferol Improves Breast Cancer-Related Depression through the COX-2/PGE2 Pathway
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1 Department of Pharmacy, Hunan Cancer Hospital & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, 410013 Changsha, Hunan, China
2 The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, 410007 Changsha, Hunan, China
3 The Second Department of Breast Surgery, Hunan Cancer Hospital & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, 410013 Changsha, Hunan, China
4 Department of Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, 410013 Changsha, Hunan, China
*Correspondence: shiyingrui@hnca.org.cn (Yingrui Shi)
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2023, 28(11), 311; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.fbl2811311
Submitted: 7 January 2023 | Revised: 27 June 2023 | Accepted: 24 July 2023 | Published: 28 November 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research for Breast Cancer)
Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Background: Breast cancer-related depression (BCRD) is strongly associated with BC and increases recurrence and mortality. This study investigated the role of kaempferol in the pathogenesis of BCRD and its underlying mechanism. Methods: 4T1 mouse BC cells were treated with corticosterone (Cort) in vitro to develop a neuronal injury model, and a BCRD mouse model was established by injecting 4T1 cells and Cort. The effects of kaempferol on 4T1 cells and BCRD models were measured by behavioral tests, Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, wound healing assay, colony formation assay, Western blot analysis, quantitative real-time PCR, hematoxylin and eosin staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunofluorescence. BCRD cells were transfected with the cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) overexpression plasmid to study the role of the COX-2/prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) axis in the anti-BCRD activity of kaempferol. The connection between kaempferol and COX-2 was analyzed by molecular docking. Results: Kaempferol reduced the viability, migration, and clones of 4T1 cells and inhibited BC growth and depression-like behavior in mice. Kaempferol alleviated inflammation in BCRD, decreased interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and IL-6 levels, and increased transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and IL-10 levels. In addition, kaempferol elevated the levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine and the amount of 5-Bromo-2-deoxyuridine/neuronal nuclei-positive cells. Kaempferol downregulated COX-2 and PGE2, and kaempferol could dock with the protein structure of COX-2. Overexpression of COX-2 reduced BCRD viability, upregulated IL-1β and IL-6 levels, and downregulated TGF-β1 and IL-10 expression. Overexpression of COX-2 reversed the protective effects of kaempferol. Conclusion: Kaempferol exerted anti-BCRD effects, at least in part by inhibiting the COX-2/PGE2 pathway, which regulates neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter imbalance, and defective neurogenesis. Therefore, kaempferol may be a promising candidate active ingredient for treating BCRD.

Keywords
breast cancer
depression
kaempferol
COX-2
PGE2
Funding
82104846/National Natural Science Foundation of China
202103101959/Scientific Research Project of Hunan Provincial Health Commission
202204015380/Scientific Research Project of Hunan Provincial Health Commission
2020NSFC-B001/Hunan Cancer Hospital Climb Plan
Figures
Fig. 1.
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