Background:
In previous studies, we provided evidence suggesting the involvement of γ-synuclein in growth, invasion, and
metastasis of colon cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Among γ-synuclein downstream genes, the microtubule-associated protein 1 light
chain 3 (LC3), an autophagy gene, was screened by gene expression profile chip analysis.
Objective:
We planned to investigate the functional effects of γ-synuclein on autophagy induced by ER stress in colon cancer cells.
Methods:
We investigated the functional effects of γ-synuclein on autophagy and apoptosis induced by Thapsigargin (TG), ER stressinducing agent, in colon cancer cell lines using immunofluorescence staining, RT-PCR, western blot, CCK8 test, flow cytometry
analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. To further determine how γ-synuclein regulated autophagy and apoptosis, PD98059
(ERK inhibitor), SP600125 (ERK inhibitor), anisomycin (JNK activator), and c-Jun siRNA were used respectively in γ-synuclein siRNA
transfected HCT116 cells. Then, autophagy proteins, apoptosis proteins, and pathway proteins were detected by western blot analysis.
The expression of autophagy genes was assessed by RT-PCR.
Results:
Our data showed that ER stress-induced colon cancer cells autophagy mainly in the early stage (0-24h) and apoptosis mainly in
the late stage (24-48h). ER stress up-regulated γ-synuclein gene and protein expression in colon cancer cells, accompanied by autophagy.
γ-synuclein protected HCT116 cells by enhancing autophagy in the early stage (0-24h) through activation of ERK and JNK pathway and
inhibiting apoptosis in the late stage (24-48h) through inhibition of the JNK pathway. γ-synuclein could promote autophagy via the JNK
pathway activation of ATG genes, LC3, Beclin 1, and ATG7. γ-synuclein may play a role in the transition between autophagy and
apoptosis in our model.
Conclusion:
Overall, we provided the first experimental evidence to show that γ-synuclein may play an important role in autophagy that
protects colon cancer cells from ER stress. Therefore, our data suggest a new molecular mechanism for γ-synuclein-mediated CRC
progression.
Inhibition of HSP90 by AUY922 Preferentially Kills Mutant KRAS Colon Cancer Cells by Activating Bim through ER Stress
