ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the effect of fucoidan on multiple myeloma U266 cells and its possible molecular mechanism. Methods: The multiple myeloma U266 cells were treated with 10, 25 and 50 μg/mL fucoidan for 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. The growth inhibitory rate of U266 cells was determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry. The expression levels of RAS, p38, phospho-p38, sonic Hedgehog (Shh) and glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (GLI1) were detected by Western blotting. Results: The growth of multiple myeloma U266 cells treated with different concentrations of fucoidan (10, 25 and 50 μg/mL) was inhibited only in a dose-dependent manner. The apoptosis rates of U266 cells treated with 10, 25 and 50 μg/mL fucoidan for 24 h were (6.73±2.30)%, (9.12±1.90)% and (20.13±2.10)%, respectively, which were higher than that of the U266 cells without fucoidan intervention [control: (4.08±1.60)%; P < 0.05). The expression levels of RAS, phospho-p38, Shh and GLI1 proteins in U266 cells treated with fucoidan were significantly lower than that of the control (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Fucoidan inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of U266 cells by inhibiting Ras-p38MAPK and Shh-GLI1 signaling pathways. Copyright © 2013 by TUMOR.