ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the inhibition effect of curcumin on the proliferation of the human esophageal carcinoma cell line Ec109 and its impact on PEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Esophageal carcinoma Ec109 cells were cultured in vitro conventionally and were treated with curcumin at different concentrations. The cell proliferation level was examined by MIT colorimetry, the ultrastructure of curcumin-treated Ec109 cells were detected with transmission electron microscope (TEM) and cell apoptosis was observed by FCM with AnnexinV-FITC/PI double staining. The protein levels of PTEN, Akt, GSK3P and Caspase 3 of curcumin-treated Ec109 cells were detected by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MTT test showed that curcumin could inhibit the proliferation of Ec109 cells in a time and concentration-dependent manner. TEM examination indicated that curcumin could induce Ec109 cell apoptosis. FCM detection showed that Ec109 cell apoptotic rate increased significantly with the increase of drug concentration. On the other hand, curcumin could promote the expression of PTEN, GSK3beta and Caspase 3 yet reduce the expression of Akt.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Curcumin could obviously up-regulate the expression of PTEN, GSK3beta and Caspase 3, surpress PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and hence inhibit the proliferation of Ec109 cells.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Apoptosis , Caspase 3 , Metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation , Curcumin , Pharmacology , Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 , Metabolism , Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta , Oncogene Protein v-akt , Metabolism , PTEN Phosphohydrolase , Metabolism , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases , Metabolism , Signal TransductionABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the molecular mechanism of curcumin in human esophageal carcinoma cell line (EC109).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>EC109 cells were cultivated in vitro. When 80%-90% confluence was reached, they were treated with curcumin in different concentrations (15-120 µmol/L). The effects on cell proliferation were examined by CCK-8 colorimetry. The ultrastructure of EC109 cells were detected with transmission electron microscope(TEM). The cells apoptosis was observed with laser confocal microscope(LCM) by AnnexinV-FITC/PI double staining. The proteins level of PTEN, AKT, GSK3β and Caspase 3 were tested by flow cytometry(FCM) .</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CCK-8 test showed that curcumin could inhibit the proliferation of EC109 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. TEM and LCM examinations indicated that curcumin could make EC109 cells apoptosis. The data of FCM showed that curcumin could increase the expression of PTEN, GSK3β and Caspase 3, decreased the expression of AKT.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The effects of curcumin on inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis of EC109 cells were related with increased expression of PTEN and inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.</p>