ABSTRACT
Objective This article aims to study the impact of cyclopamine,a Hedgehog signaling pathway inhibitor,on the proliferation and apoptosis of QBC939 cholangiocarcinoma cells.Methods The proliferation of QBC939 cells was detected with the MTT assay,and the apoptotic rate was analyzed with the flow cytometry assay.RT-PCR and Western blow were used to detect the expressions of tumor-related genes and proteins in QBC939 cells before and after cyclopamine treatment.Results Our results show that cyclopamine inhibited the growth of QBC939 cells in time and dose dependent manners.After a 5,10,or 20 μmol/L cyclopamine treatment for 48 hours,QBC939 cells showed increased apoptotic rates significantly higher than those in the control group (P＜0.01).Furthermore,cyclopamine down regulated the mRNA and protein levels of PTCH1,GLI1,and EGFR in QBC939 cells.Conclusion Therefore,blockage of the Hedgehog signaling pathway with cyclopamine could suppress the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of QBC939 cholangiocarcinoma cells.