Artemisinin suppressed tumour growth and induced vascular normalisation in oral squamous cell carcinoma via inhibition of macrophage migration inhibitory factor

Abstract Background Tumour vascular normalisation therapy advocates a balance between pro‐angiogenic factors and anti‐angiogenic factors in tumours. Artemisinin (ART), which is derived from traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown to inhibit tumour growth; however, the relationship between ART and tumour vascular normalisation in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has not been previously reported. Methods Different concentrations(0 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg)of ART were used to treat the xenograft nude mice model of OSCC. The effects of ART on migration and proliferation of OSCC and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) cells were detected by scratch assay and CCK‐8 assay. OSCC cells with macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) silenced were constructed to explore the effect of MIF. Results Treatment with ART inhibited the growth and angiogenesis of OSCC xenografts in nude mice and downregulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), IL‐8, and MIF expression levels. ART reduced the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HUVEC, as well as the expression of VEGFR1 and VEGFR2. When the dose of ART was 50 mg/kg, vascular normalisation of OSCC xenografts was induced. Moreover, VEGF and IL‐8 were needed in rhMIF restoring tumour growth and inhibit vascular normalisation after the addition of rhMIF to ART‐treated cells. Conclusion Artemisinin might induce vascular normalisation and inhibit tumour growth in OSCC through the MIF‐signalling pathway.