Limonin suppresses the progression of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma via inhibiting YAP transcriptional regulatory activity.

The suppressive roles of limonin have been established in various tumors. However, its roles in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) progression are still confusing. This work aims to explore limonin-mediated effects on OTSCC progression. CCK8 analysis was performed to evaluate limonin-mediated effects on OTSCC cell viability. Wound healing and transwell invasion analysis were constructed to examine the effects of limonin on OTSCC cell migration and invasion capacity. RT-qPCR, western blot and luciferase reporter assays were used to explore the underlying mechanisms contributing to limonin-mediated effects on OTSCC progression. It was found that limonin significantly suppressed the viability of OTSCC cells. Additionally, limonin reduced the migration and invasion ability of OTSCC cells. Mechanistically, limonin suppresses OTSCC progression by promoting the nuclear to cytoplasm translocation of YAP, decreasing YAP protein expression and subsequently decreasing YAP transcriptional regulatory activity, this is responsible for limonin-mediated suppression on OTSCC progression. Thus, this work suggests that limonin suppresses OTSCC progression through inhibiting YAP transcriptional regulatory activity.