Curcumin decreases epithelial‐mesenchymal transition by a Pirin‐dependent mechanism in cervical cancer cells

Curcumin is a natural antioxidant polyphenol, which decreases epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell migration in cervical cancer cells. However, the mechanism by which such a decrease occurs is unclear. It is well established that cervical cancer can be caused by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), which overexpresses E6 and E7 oncoproteins. Recent findings have suggested that viral oncoproteins regulate the expression of Pirin, which is an oxidative stress sensor involved in EMT and cell migration. Molecular markers associated with EMT, pirin and HPV were evaluated using reverse transcription-reverse quantitative PCR and western blotting. In addition, the migratory ability of cells was evaluated using a Transwell assay. In order to evaluate the role of Pirin in curcumin-mediated inhibition of EMT, SiHa cervical carcinoma cells, which contain two integrated copies of HPV16, were exposed to curcumin. Cell migration, and the expression levels of EMT biomarkers and the pirin protein, which is a product of the PIR gene, were subsequently evaluated. The results demonstrated a significant decrease in EMT following exposure to 20 µM curcumin for 72 h. This finding was supported by a decrease in the protein expression levels of N-cadherin, Vimentin and Slug. Furthermore, it was observed that PIR expression and Pirin protein levels were significantly decreased when SiHa cells were exposed to curcumin. Subsequently, to analyze the effects of Pirin on EMT, SiHa cells were transfected with a small interfering RNA (siRNA) to knockdown PIR. A significant increase in E-cadherin mRNA expression and a decrease in N-cadherin protein expression were observed. In addition, a similar decrease was observed when SiHa cells were exposed to both PIR siRNA and curcumin. Finally, a significant decrease in SiHa cell migration was observed in the presence of 20 µM curcumin compared with in the control group. These findings suggested that curcumin may decrease EMT, at least in part by a Pirin-dependent mechanism. Therefore, Pirin protein may be an important pharmacological target for cervical cancer treatment.