Inhibitory Effect of Hesperidin on the Expression of Programmed Death Ligand (PD-L1) in Breast Cancer

• Main Authors: Prachya Kongtawelert, Benjawan Wudtiwai, Thuzar Hla Shwe, Peraphan Pothacharoen, Thanyaluck Phitak
• Format: Journal
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology; Chemistry; Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85077912084&origin=inward; http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/jspui/handle/6653943832/68249
• Institution: Chiang Mai University

Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is overexpressed in the most aggressive breast cancer subtype, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), assisting the eradication of antitumor immunity, and thereby enhancing the survival of the tumor. This study explored how hesperidin affects PD-L1 expression, and thereby cancer progression in breast cancer cells. We found that MDA-MB231, the triple-negative breast adenocarcinoma cancer cell line, (high aggressiveness) has higher expression, in both mRNA and protein, of PD-L1 than that of the other breast cancer cell line, MCF-7 (low aggressiveness). Hesperidin inhibited cell proliferation in MDA-MB231 cells. Additionally, high expression of PD-L1 (both mRNA and protein) in aggressive cancer cells was strongly inhibited by hesperidin through inhibition of Akt and NF-κB signaling. Moreover, hesperidin treatment, by inhibiting activation of matrix metalloproteinases such as MMP-9 and MMP-2, suppressed the metastatic phenotype and cell migration in the PD-L1 high-expressing MDA-MB231 cells. In summary, hesperidin inhibits breast cancer cell growth through the inhibition of the expression of PD-L1 via downregulation of Akt and NF-κB signaling in TNBC. Moreover, hesperidin significantly suppresses cell migration of MDA-MB231 cells. Our findings reveal fresh insights into the anticancer effects of hesperidin which might have potential clinical implications.