Shikimic acid promotes estrogen receptor(ER)-positive breast cancer cells proliferation via activation of NF-κB signaling

Shikimic acid (SA), a widely-known hydroaromatic compound enriched in Bracken fern and Illicium verum (also known as Chinese star anise), increases the risk of gastric and esophageal carcinoma, nevertheless, the influence of SA on breast cancer remains indistinct. Herein we found that, with models in vitro, SA significantly promoted estrogen receptor(ER) positive cells proliferation and NF-kappa B activation was involved in it. Moreover, our data showed that I kappa B alpha, a critically endogenous inhibitor of NF-kappa B, was repressed. Subsequently, we found increase of miR-300 by SA treatment sand miR-300 could target I kappa B alpha mRNA. Additionally, inhibition of miR-300 abrogated the repression of I kappa B alpha by SA. As a result, miR-300 was also involved in NF-kappa B activation and breast cancer cells proliferation promotion due to SA exposure. Taken together, with ER-positive breast cancer cell models in vitro, MCF-7 and T47D, our results implied that SA promoted breast cancer cells proliferation via a miR-300-induced NF-kappa B dependent pathway controlling cell cycle proteins.