RESUMO
Objective To evaluate the role of phosphatidylinositol 3?kinase(PI3K)∕serine?threo?nine kinase(Akt)signaling pathway in propofol?induced invasion of human liver cancer cell line HepG2. Methods HepG2 cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum in a 5% CO2incubator at 37℃. HepG2 cells at the logarithmic growth phase were divided into 6 groups(n=18 each)using a random number table: control group(group C), propofol group(group P), PI3K∕Akt signaling pathway agonist IGF?1 group(group IGF), PI3K∕Akt signaling pathway inhibitor LY294002 group(group LY), IGF?1 plus propofol group(group IGF+P)and LY294002 plus propofol group (group LY + P). Propofol 120 μg∕ml was added in group P. IGF?1 10 nmol∕L was added in group IGF. LY294002 10 μmol was added in group LY. In group IGF+P, 10 nmol∕L IGF?1 was added, cells were in?cubated for 24 h, and then 120 μg∕ml propofol was added. In group LY+P, 10 μmol LY294002 was add?ed, cells were incubated for 24 h, and then 120 μg∕ml propofol was added. The invasion of cells was measured by Transwell invasion assay at 24 h of incubation. The expression of PI3K and Akt mRNA in cells was determined by real?time polymerase chain reaction. The expression of Akt, PI3K and phosphorylated Akt(p?Akt)was detected by using Western blot. Results Compared with group C, the invasive cell count was significantly reduced, the expression of PI3K protein and mRNA was down?regulated, p?Akt∕Akt ratio was decreased, and the expression of Akt mRNA was down?regulated in P, P+IGF, LY and P+LY groups, and the invasive cell count was significantly increased, the expression of PI3K protein and mRNA was up?regulated, p?Akt∕Akt ratio was increased, and the expression of Akt mRNA was up?regulated in group IGF(P<0.05). Compared with group P, the invasive cell count was significantly increased, the expression of PI3K protein and mRNA was up?regulated, p?Akt∕Akt ratio was increased, and the expres?sion of Akt mRNA was up?regulated in group P+IGF, and the invasive cell count was significantly reduced, the expression of PI3K protein and mRNA was down?regulated, p?Akt∕Akt ratio was decreased, and the ex?pression of Akt mRNA was down?regulated in group P+LY(P<0.05). The invasive cell count was signifi?cantly reduced, the expression of PI3K protein and mRNA was down?regulated, p?Akt∕Akt ratio was de?creased, and the expression of Akt mRNA was down?regulated in group P+IGF as compared with group IGF (P<0.05)and in group P+LY as compared with group LY(P<0.05). Conclusion The mechanism by which propofol inhibits invasion of HepG2 cells is related to inhibiting activation of PI3K∕Akt signaling path?ways.