虫草素通过ERK1/2、Ezrin和Akt信号通路抑制胆囊癌细胞SNU-308的增殖和迁移

目的:探讨虫草素对胆囊癌细胞SNU-308增殖和迁移的影响及其分子机制。方法:MTT法和平板集落形成实验检测不同浓度虫草素对胆囊癌SNU-308细胞活力和集落形成能力的影响;Annexin V/PI双染法检测细胞凋亡率;Western blot法检测细胞凋亡和自噬相关蛋白以及Akt、ERK1/2和Ezrin蛋白的磷酸化水平;免疫荧光染色法检测细胞内LC3的表达水平;划痕愈合实验和Transwell实验检测虫草素对胆囊癌细胞迁移能力的影响;划痕实验检测Akt抑制剂和ERK1/2抑制剂及Ezrin基因沉默对细胞迁移能力的影响。结果:虫草素可显著抑制胆囊癌细胞的活力和集落形成能力(P0.05)。流式细胞术结果显示,虫草素可诱导胆囊癌细胞凋亡(P0.05)。Western blot结果显示,虫草素处理后Bcl-2表达降低,Bax、细胞色素C(Cyto C)、Fas、Fas L和cleaved caspase-3蛋白水平升高,自噬标识蛋白LC3-II/I比例和beclin 1表达上调(P0.05)。免疫荧光染色结果显示,虫草素处理后SNU-308细胞胞浆中LC3荧光颗粒的数量明显增多。划痕实验和Transwell实验结果显示虫草素可抑制细胞迁移(P0.05)。虫草素明显抑制Akt、ERK1/2和Ezrin蛋白的磷酸化水平(P0.05)。Ezrin基因沉默及Akti-1/2和GDC-0994均可抑制胆囊癌细胞的迁移作用(P0.05)。结论:虫草素通过诱导凋亡和自噬抑制胆囊癌细胞的增殖和迁移,其机制可能与调控ERK1/2,Ezrin和Akt信号通路有关。

Cordycepin inhibits proliferation and migration of gallbladder cancer cell SNU-308 by ERK1/2, Ezrin and Akt signaling pathways

AIM: To investigate the effects of cordycepin on the proliferation and migration abilities of gallbladder cancer cell line SNU-308 and its molecular mechanism. METHODS: The viability of SNU-308 cells treated with cordycepin at different concentrations was measured by MTT assay and the colony formation ability was also detected. The effect of cordycepin on apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI double staining. The protein levels of apoptosis and autophagy markers, and the phosphorylation level of Akt, ERK1/2 and Ezrin were evaluated by Western blot. Immunofluorescence staining was also used to analyze the expression level of LC3 after cordycepin treatment. Wound healing assay and Transwell assay were performed to evaluate the migration ability of the SNU-308 cells after cordycepin treatment. Wound healing assay was also used to evaluate the effects of Akt inhibitor, ERK1/2 inhibitor and Ezrin knockdown on the changes of migration ability. RESULTS: Cordycepin significantly inhibited the viability and the ability of colony formation of gallbladder cancer cells (P<0.05). Induction of apoptosis by cordycepin were revealed by flow cytometry (P<0.05). The protein expression of Bcl-2 was down-regulated, while the protein levels of Bax, cytochrome C (Cyto C), Fas, FasL and cleaved caspase-3 were increased and the autophagy marker beclin 1 and the ratio of LC3-Ⅱ/I were upregulated by Western blot analysis (P<0.05). LC3 accumulation in the cytoplasm after cordycepin treatment was demonstrated by immunofluorescence staining. Cordycepin treatment resulted in the inhibition of cell migration were detected by Transwell assay and wound healing assay (P<0.05). The protein levels of p-Akt, p-ERK1/2 and p-Ezrin were down-regulated after cordycepin treatment (P<0.05). Besides, Ezrin knockdown, Akti-1/2 and GDC-0994 all resulted in the inhibition of migration ability (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Cordycepin induces apoptosis and autophagy to inhibit gallbladder can-cer cell proliferation and migration by regulating ERK1/2, Ezrin and Akt signaling pathways.