Resveratrol suppresses malignant progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells by inducing the ZNF750 pathway

Deletion or mutation of zinc finger protein 750 (ZNF750) has been linked to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), but it is not clear whether ZNF750 is a therapeutic target for OSCC. This study examined whether activation of zinc finger protein 750 (ZNF750) pathway may be involved in the ability of resveratrol to inhibit malignant progression of CAL-27 oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. CAL-27 cells were treated with resveratrol and transfected with plasmids expressing a ZNF750 mimic or ZNF750 inhibitor. Cell proliferation was assessed using the CCK-8 assay and a BrdU ELISA, and cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were examined using flow cytometry. Colony formation was also assessed. Western blotting was used to examine the effects of resveratrol on levels of angiogenin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), prolyl hydroxylase 2 (PHD2), G protein signal-regulated protein 5 (RGS5), integrin A5 (ITGA5), integrin B1 (ITGB1), CD44 and ZNF750. Quantitative PCR was used to examine effects on mRNA levels of platelet derived growth factor (PDGFB) and tumor vascular marker CD105. Resveratrol down-regulated angiogenin, VEGF, RGS5, CD105, and the cell adhesion molecules ITGA5, ITGB1 and CD44 in CAL-27 cells. Conversely, it up-regulated ZNF750, PHD2 and PDGFB. These changes were associated with reduced proliferation, reduced colony formation and increased apoptosis. ZNF750 silencing partly reversed these effects of resveratrol. The ability of resveratrol to suppress progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma may involve activation of the ZNF750 pathway and modification of the tumor vascular microenvironment.