3-Caffeoyl, 4-dihydrocaffeoylquinic acid from Salicornia herbacea inhibits tumor cell invasion by regulating protein kinase C-delta-dependent matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression.

In this study, we determined the effects of a novel chlorogenic acid, 3-caffeoyl, 4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (CDCQ) isolated from Salicornia herbacea, on tumor invasion and migration in human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells and investigated the possible mechanism(s) involved. CDCQ reduced the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced activation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and MMP-2 and inhibited cell invasion and migration. CDCQ suppressed PMA-induced expression of MMP-9 mRNA and protein by suppressing the transcription factor AP-1, without changing the level of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1. CDCQ-inhibited PMA-induced MMP-2 expression by suppressing membrane-type 1 MMP (MT1-MMP), but did not alter the TIMP-2 level. CDCQ also inhibited the PMA-induced nuclear translocation of c-Jun and c-Fos, which are upstream of PMA-induced MMP-9 expression. Furthermore, CDCQ strongly repressed PMA-induced phosphorylation of ERK, p38 MAPK, and JNK, which are dependent on the PKCdelta pathway. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the anti-invasive effects of CDCQ occur through the inhibition of AP-1 and signaling pathways involving PKCdelta and three MAPKs, leading to the downregulation of MMP-9 expression. Thus, CDCQ is an effective anti-metastatic agent that functions by downregulating MMP-9 gene expression.