Resveratrol inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colon cancer cells, which might be related to proteasome-mediated degradation of HSF1

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an essential event during the initial steps of the cancer metastasis process. Resveratrol, a natural polyphenolic compound, has received considerable attention for its inhibitory effects on cancer metastasis through the prevention of EMT, but the specific mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. To address this issue, we investigated the effects of resveratrol on the migration of SW480 cells using a high glucose-induced EMT model. The data revealed that resveratrol inhibited the high glucose-induced migration of SW480. Resveratrol also decreased the levels of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1), a modulator of EMT marker molecules, which is often overexpressed in cancer cells. Resveratrol-induced HSF1 suppression was linked to the inhibition of EMT-associated cell migration. Furthermore, resveratrol reduced HSF1 expression by inducing a proteasome-mediated degradation. Our results provide the first evidence that resveratrol inhibits the EMT of cancer cells, which might be involved in the suppression of HSF1.