Effect of PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway on Regulating and Controlling the Anti-Invasion and Metastasis of Hepatoma Cells by Bufalin

Author(s):  
Xia Sheng ◽  
Pengfei Zhu ◽  
Yi Zhao ◽  
Jinwei Zhang ◽  
Haijia Li ◽  
...  

Background: Autophagy plays a "double-edged sword" in the process of tumorigenesis, development and metastasis. Objective: In this study, we explored the effect of PI3K/AKT/mTOR autophagy related signaling pathway on regulating and controlling the invasion and metastasis of liver cancer cells by Bufalin. Methods: The cell counting , migration , adhesion and invasion assay were used to evaluate the effect of Bufalin on the cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis. The protein expression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway were detected by Western Blotting technique. Results: After inhibiting autophagy of HCC-LM3 cells, the inhibitory effect of Bufalin on adhesion, migration and invasion of HCC-LM3 cells was significantly enhanced. The synergistic inhibition was strongest when different autophagy inhibitors were combined with 3MA and CQ. After inhibiting autophagy, Bufalin significantly inhibited the protein expression of P-AKT, Cyclin D1, MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF in HCC-LM3 cells. The protein expression of PTEN and E-Cadherin in HCC-LM3 cells was significantly increased. Conclusion: The present study shows that the anti-tumor effect of Bufalin mainly inhibit the proliferation, extracellular matrix degradation and angiogenesis of HCC by influencing autophagy. These findings confirm the capability of Bufalin in inhibiting metastasis of HCC and in parallel to current patents could be applied as a novel therapeutic strategy in the prevention of metastasis of HCC.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
yutao guan ◽  
Fu-bin Zhang ◽  
Yan-qing Huang ◽  
Ling-ling Zhou ◽  
Wei-feng Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Endometriosis is a progressive and benign disease characterized by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma tissue outside of the uterine cavity. Though endometriosis is a benign disease, it has the characteristics of malignant tumour growth. Abnormal expression of T-cadherin is involved in the occurrence and progression of many tumours. We aimed to investigate whether T-cadherin promotes the migration and invasion of endometriosis cells through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Methods: Ectopic and eutopic endometrial samples from 62 female patients with endometriosis and endometrial samples from 51 female patients without endometriosis were collected. The immortalized endometrial stromal cell line hEM15A was cultured. Real-time RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the expression of T-cadherin, phospho-PI3K/Akt/mTOR and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2). Transfection technology was employed to upregulate T-cadherin expression. The migration and invasion abilities of hEM15A cells were measured by the transwell assay with uncoated or Matrigel-coated membranes. Results: The mRNA and protein expression of T-cadherin was significantly decresed in the ectopic tissues of the patients with endometriosis, while the mRNA and protein expression in the eutopic endometrial tissues of the same patients did not significantly differ from that in the patients without endometriosis. The migration and invasion ability and phospho-PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MMP-2 expression levels were decreased in hEM15A cells with high T-cadherin expression compared with the corresponding parameters in the normal control group. However, everolimus and BEZ235 inhibited cell migration and invasion in cells with low T-cadherin expression, and weakened overexpression of T‑cadherin significantly attenuated MMP-2 protein expression. Conclusion: Loss of T-cadherin promotes cell migration and invasion in endometriosis via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Yao ◽  
Zefen Wang ◽  
Yong Cheng ◽  
Chao Ma ◽  
Yahua Zhong ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Glioma, the most common primary brain tumor, account Preparing figures for 30 to 40% of all intracranial tumors. Herein, we aimed to study the effects of M2 macrophage-derived exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) on glioma cells. Methods First, we identified seven differentially expressed miRNAs in infiltrating macrophages and detected the expression of these seven miRNAs in M2 macrophages. We then selected hsa-miR-15a-5p (miR-15a) and hsa-miR-92a-3p (miR-92a) for follow-up studies, and confirmed that miR-15a and miR-92a were under-expressed in M2 macrophage exosomes. Subsequently, we demonstrated that M2 macrophage-derived exosomes promoted migration and invasion of glioma cells, while exosomal miR-15a and miR-92a had the opposite effects on glioma cells. Next, we performed the target gene prediction in four databases and conducted target gene validation by qRT-PCR, western blot and dual luciferase reporter gene assays. Results The results revealed that miR-15a and miR-92a were bound to CCND1 and RAP1B, respectively. Western blot assays demonstrated that interference with the expression of CCND1 or RAP1B reduced the phosphorylation level of AKT and mTOR, indicating that both CCND1 and RAP1B can activate the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Conclusion Collectively, these findings indicate that M2 macrophage-derived exosomal miR-15a and miR-92a inhibit cell migration and invasion of glioma cells through PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.


2018 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 205873841881434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Genglong Zhu ◽  
Xialei Liu ◽  
Haijing Li ◽  
Yang Yan ◽  
Xiaopeng Hong ◽  
...  

Liver cancer is one of the most common and lethal cancers in human digestive system, which kills more than half a million people every year worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the effects of kaempferol, a flavonoid compound isolated from vegetables and fruits, on hepatic cancer HepG2 cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis, as well as microRNA-21 (miR-21) expression. Cell viability was detected using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Cell proliferation was measured using 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay. Cell apoptosis was assessed using Guava Nexin assay. Cell migration and invasion were determined using two-chamber migration (invasion) assay. Cell transfection was used to change the expression of miR-21. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to analyze the expressions of miR-21 and phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN). Expression of key proteins involved in proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase 3/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) pathway were evaluated using western blotting. Results showed that kaempferol significantly inhibited HepG2 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis. Kaempferol remarkably reduce the expression of miR-21 in HepG2 cells. Overexpression of miR-21 obviously reversed the effects of kaempferol on HepG2 cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. Moreover, miR-21 negatively regulated the expression of PTEN in HepG2 cells. Kaempferol enhanced the expression of PTEN and inactivated PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in HepG2 cells. In conclusion, kaempferol inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of HepG2 cells by down-regulating miR-21 and up-regulating PTEN, as well as inactivating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huanfang Fan ◽  
Dehui Li ◽  
Na Guo ◽  
Chunxia Sun ◽  
Jingfei Dong ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective. To study the inhibitory effect of Xihuang Pill on the development of DMBA combined estrogen and progesterone induced breast precancerous lesions rats by PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, and to explore the effect of Xihuang Pill in preventing and treating breast cancer. Method. Establishment of a rat model of breast precancerous lesion with DMBA combined estrogen and progesterone sequential induction for 10 weeks. Xihuang Pill was administered by gavage continuously for 4 weeks. Take rat breast tissue and stain with hematoxylin- eosin (HE). The pathomorphological changes were observed with light microscope; TUNEL staining to detect cell apoptosis in breast tissue; Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of P-PI3K, P-AKT (S473), P-AKT (T308), PTEN, P-Tuberin/TSC2, P-Tuberin (p-S939), p-mTOR, P-4E-BP1 in breast tissues. The qRT-PCR was used to detect the gene expression of PTEN mRNA and VEGF mRNA. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of P-S6, p-p70s6k and VEGF. Result. Compared with the disease model group, the low, middle and high dose Xihuang Pill groups could significantly reduce the degree of breast pathology, and the number of apoptosis of breast precancerous lesions cells increased with the increase of Xihuang Pill dose; The expression levels of P-PI3K, P-AKT (S473), P-AKT (T308), p-mTOR, P-4E-BP1, p-S6, p-p70S6K, VEGF protein and VEGF mRNA dropped with the increase of Xihuang Pill dose. The expression levels of PTEN, P-Tuberin/TSC2, P-Tuberin (p-S939) protein and PTEN mRNA elevated with the increase of Xihuang Pill dose. Conclusion. Xihuang Pill can promote the apoptosis of breast precancerous lesion cells and reduce the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells, and then inhibit the progression of breast precancerous lesions. Its mechanism probably associated with the regulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway related gene protein expression.


2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. e1247-e1247 ◽  
Author(s):  
L-J Yuan ◽  
J-D Li ◽  
L Zhang ◽  
J-H Wang ◽  
T Wan ◽  
...  

Abstract Previously, we found that sperm-associated antigen 5 (SPAG5) was upregulated in pelvic lymph node metastasis–positive cervical cancer. The aim of this study is to examine the role of SPAG5 in the proliferation and tumorigenicity of cervical cancer and its clinical significance in tumor progression. In our study, SPAG5 expression in cervical cancer patients was detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry; cervical cancer cell function with downregulated SPAG5 in vitro was explored using tetrazolium assay, flow cytometry, and colony formation and Transwell assays. SPAG5 was upregulated in tumor tissue compared with paired adjacent noncancerous tissues; SPAG5 upregulation in tumor tissues indicated poor disease-free survival, which was also an independent prognostic indicator for cervical cancer patients. In vitro study demonstrated that SPAG5 downregulation inhibited cell proliferation and growth significantly by G2/M arrest and induction of apoptosis, and hindered cell migration and invasion. Under SPAG5 downregulation, the sensitivity of cervical cancer cells differed according to taxol dose, which correlated with mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway activity. In general, SPAG5 upregulation relates to poor prognosis in cervical cancer patients, and SPAG5 is a regulator of mTOR activity during taxol treatment in cervical cancer.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
De-hui Li ◽  
Huan-fang Fan ◽  
Na Guo ◽  
Chun-xia Sun ◽  
Jing-fei Dong ◽  
...  

Abstract Background:To study the inhibitory effect of Xihuang pill on the development of DMBA combined with oestrogen- and progesterone-induced breast precancerous lesions in rats by the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and to explore the effect of Xihuang pill in preventing and treating breast cancer. Method: Establishment of a rat model of precancerous breast lesions with DMBA combined with oestrogen and progesterone sequential induction for 10 weeks. Xihuang pill was administered continuously by gavage for 4 weeks. Rat breast tissue was stained with haematoxylin-eosin (HE). The pathomorphological changes were observed with a light microscope. TUNEL staining was used to detect cell apoptosis in breast tissue. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of P-PI3K, P-AKT (S473), P-AKT (T308), PTEN, P-tuberin/TSC2, P-tuberin (p-S939), p-mTOR, and P-4E-BP1 in breast tissues. qRT-PCR was used to detect the gene expression of PTEN mRNA and VEGF mRNA. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of P-S6, p-p70s6k and VEGF.Result:Compared with the disease model group, the low-, middle- and high-dose Xihuang pill groups could significantly reduce the degree of breast pathology, and the number of apoptotic precancerous breast lesion cells increased with increasing Xihuang pill dose. The expression levels of P-PI3K, P-AKT (S473), P-AKT (T308), p-mTOR, P-4E-BP1, p-S6, p-p70S6K, VEGF protein and VEGF mRNA dropped with increasing Xihuang pill dose. The expression levels of PTEN, P-tuberin/TSC2, P-tuberin (p-S939) protein and PTEN mRNA increased with increasing Xihuang pill dose. Conclusion:Xihuang pill can promote the apoptosis of precancerous breast lesion cells, reduce the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells, and then inhibit the progression of precancerous breast lesions. Its mechanism is probably associated with the regulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway related protein expression.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Fengqin Wang ◽  
Hanzhong Zhang ◽  
Zhigang Cheng

EPHA2 is a member of the ephrin receptor tyrosine kinase family and is closely related to the malignant tumor progression. The effect of EPHA2 on OSCC is not clear. This study explored the role of EPHA2 and AKT/mTOR signaling pathways in Cal-27 cell invasion and migration. The expression of EPHA2 and EPHA4 in human OSCC and normal oral tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry. EPHA2-overexpressing and EPHA2-knockdown Cal-27 cells were established, and the cells were treated with an AKT inhibitor (MK2206) and mTOR inhibitor (RAD001). The expression of EPHA2 was detected by qRT-PCR, cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay, cell migration and invasion were examined by scratch and Transwell assay, and cell morphology and apoptosis were assessed by Hoechst 33258 staining. Western blot was performed to detect the expression of proteins related to AKT/mTOR signaling, cell cycle, and pseudopod invasion. EPHA2 and EPHA4 were highly expressed in clinical human OSCC. Overexpression of EPHA2 promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of Cal-27 cells, inhibited cell cycle blockage and apoptosis, and enhanced the activity of the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. MK2206 (AKT inhibitor) and RAD001 (mTOR inhibitor) reversed the effect of EPHA2 overexpression on the biological behavior of Cal-27 cells. EPHA2 promotes the invasion and migration of Cal-27 human OSCC cells by enhancing the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.


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