ABSTRACT
Background:Previous study has found that harmine inhibited the proliferation of gastric cancer cells by down-regulating cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)expression. However,its molecular mechanism is not fully clear. Aims:To investigate the effect of harmine on proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer cells,and explore the role of PTEN/Akt/MDM2 signaling pathway in this process. Methods:Human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line SGC-7901 and MKN-45 were treated with harmine at different concentrations(2,4,8,16,32 μg/mL)for 24,48,and 72 hours. The cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by MTT assay and Hoechst staining,respectively. The expressions of PTEN,COX-2, phosphorylated Akt(p-Akt)and p-MDM2 were measured by Western blotting. Results:Harmine dose- and time-dependently inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of SGC-7901 and MKN-45 cells. Also,harmine dose-dependently increased PTEN expression,and inhibited p-Akt,p-MDM2 and COX-2 expressions in SGC-7901 and MKN-45 cells. Conclusions:Harmine may inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of gastric cancer cells via down-regulating COX-2 expression through PTEN/Akt/MDM2 signaling pathway.