Quercetin inhibits proliferation and migration and promotes apoptosis of gastric cancer cells by promoting phosphorylation-mediated YAP inactivation
WANG Yuhuang
WANG Wenrui
CHENG Shujie
FENG Yunlong
ZHANG Zhuo
SHI Qiying
LI Yujia
HU Qianwen
WU Mingcai
Abstract：Objective To explore the molecular mechanisms by which quercetin regulates proliferation,migration,and apoptosis of gastric cancer cells.Methods Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to examine the differential expression of Hippo pathway protein yes-associated protein(YAP)between gastric cancer and normal tissues and its correlation with patient survival rates.CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate the effect of quercetin on viability of gastric cancer HGC-27 cells.The expression levels of YAP and phosphorylated YAP(p-YAP)in gastric cancer and normal gastric tissues were detected using Western blotting.In HGC-27 cells with YAP knockdown,the effects of quercetin treatment on cell proliferation,migration and apoptosis were assessed using EdU assay,colony formation assay,Transwell assay,and flow cytometry;the localization of YAP was determined using immunofluorescence staining.Rescue experiments were performed by overexpressing YAP in HGC-27 cells.Results YAP expression was markedly lower in gastric cancer tissues than in normal tissues,and its expression level was negatively correlated with patient survival rates.Quercetin significantly inhibited the survival of HGC-27 cells,promoted MST1 and LATS1 expression,and activated the Hippo signaling pathway,leading to phosphorylation-mediated inactivation of YAP,thereby reducing its nuclear translocation.Both YAP knockdown and quercetin treatment significantly suppressed proliferation and migration and promoted apoptosis of HGC-27 cells.Overexpression of YAP substantially attenuated the inhibitory effects of quercetin in HGC-27 cells.Conclusion Quercetin inhibits proliferation and migration and promotes apoptosis of gastric cancer cells by promoting phosphorylation-mediated inactivation of YAP.
Keywords：QuercetinHippo signaling pathwayyes-associated proteinphosphorylationgastric cancer
Publication Date：2026-02-20
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-04(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：11( 374-384 )