Acta Pharm. 68 (2018) 211-222

full paper

Original research paper

Paeoniflorin inhibits the growth of bladder carcinoma via deactivation of STAT3

JIANHUI-YANG, YU REN, ZHONG-GUAN LOU, XUE WAN, GUO-BIN WENG and CEN DONG

cengdong2002@163.com; wgbningbo@126.com

Laboratory of Kidney Carcinoma, Ningbo Urology and Nephrology Hospital, Urology and Nephrology Institute of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315000, P.R. China

Accepted December 20, 2017

Published online March 16, 2018

Bladder cancer (BCa) is one of the most common urinary cancers. The present study aims to investigate whether Paeoniflorin (Pae) can exert inhibitory effects on BCa. The results showed that Pae inhibited proliferation of human BCa cell lines in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Pae and cisplatin (Cis) synergistically inhibited the growth of tumours in RT4-bearing mice. Pae treatment neutralized the body loss induced by Cis. Moreover, Pae induced apoptosis in RT4 cells and increased the activities of caspase3, caspase8 and caspase9. Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (p-STAT3) level were decreased in Pae-treated RT4 cells and Pae-treated tumour-bearing mice. Furthermore, STAT3 transcriptional target B-cell lymphoma-2 was decreased in Pae-treated RT4 cells. Interestingly, Pae prevented translocation of STAT3 to the nucleus in RT4 cells. Collectively, Pae inhibits the growth of BCa, at least in part, via a STAT3 pathway.

Keywords: bladder cancer, radix Paeoniae alba, paeoniflorin, apoptosis, STAT3