Effects of wogonoside on invasion and migration of lung cancer A549 cells and angiogenesis in xenograft tumors of nude mice

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the most prevalent and deadly tumors around the world. Here we aimed to investigate the effect of wogonoside (also called baicalin) on the invasion and migration of lung cancer A549 cells and angiogenesis in xenograft tumors in nude mice. METHODS: A549 cells of lung cancer were treated with different doses of wogonoside. After 24 h, CCK8 was used to detect the survival rate of cells. The non-toxic doses of wogonoside (0, 10, 25, and 50 µM) were selected for subsequent experiments. Transwell and scratch assays were used to detect invasion and migration. The number of microtubule nodules was detected by microtubule formation experiment, and the expressions of VEGF, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin were detected by Western blotting. BALB/c nude mice were subcutaneously injected with lung cancer A549 cells to establish the xenograft model, followed by intraperitoneal injection of 80 mg/kg of wogonoside. After 30 days, tumor volume was measured, and the levels of VEGF and vimentin were detected with immunohistochemistry. The level of CD34 was determined by flow sorting. RESULTS: A549 cell survival decreased in a concentration-dependent manner, with the survival rate significantly reduced when the concentration of wogonoside exceeded 100 µM (P<0.05). A549 cell invasion and the number of microtubule nodules were significantly lower in the wogonoside 20 µM and the wogonoside 50 µM groups (P<0.05) compared with the wogonoside 0 µM group, while the rate of scratch closure and the protein levels of VEGF, N-cadherin, and Vimentin were all significantly reduced (P<0.05), and the expression level of E-cadherin was significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the tumor volumes of wogonoside (80 mg/kg) treated mice were significantly reduced after 30 days (P<0.05), and the levels of VEGF and vimentin positive cells were significantly reduced (P<0.05), as was the level of CD34 (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Wogonoside can inhibit the invasion and migration of lung cancer A549 cells and angiogenesis of xenograft tumors in nude mice.