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Abstract
The natural compound, amygdalin, is notably popular with prostate cancer patients as an alternative or complementary treatment option. However, knowledge about its mode of action is sparse. We investigated amygdalin’s impact on prostate cancer adhesion and motile behavior. DU-145 and PC3 cancer cells were exposed to amygdalin. Adhesion to human vascular endothelium or immobilized collagen was then explored. The influence of amygdalin on chemotaxis and migration was also investigated, as well as amygdalin induced alteration to surface and total cellular α and β integrin expression. Integrin knockdown was performed to evaluate the integrin influence on chemotaxis and adhesion. Amygdalin significantly reduced chemotactic activity, migration, and adhesion of DU-145 but not of PC3 cells. Amygdalin elevated integrin α2 in both cell lines. Integrin α6 was reduced by amygdalin only in DU-145 cells, whereas β1 increased only in PC3 cells. Functional blocking revealed a negative association of α2 with PC3 and DU-145 chemotaxis. The β1 increase correlated with enhanced chemotaxis, the diminished α6 expression with reduced chemotaxis. Amygdalin acted on prostate cancer cells in vitro. It induced downregulation of α6 integrin in DU-145 but not in PC3 cells, suggesting that exposing certain prostate cancer cells to amygdalin might inhibit metastatic spread promoted by this particular integrin.
Acknowledgment
This work was supported by the “Brigitta und Norbert Muth Stiftung” and the “Rudolf-Becker-Stiftung”.
Disclosure Statement
We wish to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome.
Authors’ Contributions
Conceptualization: R.A.B. and E.J.; Investigation: J.M., J.N., J.R., S.M., and C.R.; Conception and design: E.J. and R.A.B.; Data analysis and interpretation: E.J. and R.A.B.; Writing, drafting and revising: J.M., R.A.B., F.K.-H.C., and F.R.