Up-regulation of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 by 2-Hydroxycinnamaldehyde Attenuates HNSCC Cell Invasion.

Few studies have examined the effect of 2'-hydroxycinnamaldehyde (HCA) on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell invasion. This study examined the role of BMP7 on the anti-migration and anti-invasion activity of HCA using HNSCC cells. Matrigel invasion and wound healing assays were conducted to investigate cell migration or invasion. BMP7 overexpression vector or siRNA mixture was used for transient regulation of gene expression. HCA attenuated HNSCC cell migration and spheroids Matrigel invasion without cytotoxicity. mRNA and protein expression of BMP7 increased with HCA treatment. Exogenous BMP7 overexpression without HCA treatment attenuated Matrigel invasion of cells. Furthermore, suppression of BMP7 by siRNA alleviated the inhibitory effect of HCA on the invasion of Matrigel by the cell, indicating that BMP7 is responsible for the anti-migration effect of HCA in HNSCC cells. HCA treatment led to a remarkable up-regulation of BMP7, which resulted in the attenuation of HNSCC cell invasion.