Mechanism research of safflower polysaccharide inducing apoptosis of human breast cancer MDA-MB-435 cells by interrupting PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of safflower polysaccharide on apoptosis of human breast cancer MDA-MB-435 cells by blocking PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and explore its mechanism. Methods MDA-MB-435 cells were divided into control group and safflower polysaccharide 0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL groups. MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the effects of different concentrations of safflower polysaccharide on the growth inhibition and apoptosis of MDA-MB-435 cells. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the effect of different concentrations of safflower polysaccharides on the mRNA and protein expression of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR in MDA-MB-435 cells. Results Compared with the control group, the inhibition rate of MDA-MB-435 cells in safflower polysaccharide 1.0 mg/mL group was (27.73 ± 3.75)%, which was significantly higher than that [(21.52 ± 2.43)%] in safflower polysaccharide 0.5 mg/mL group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, safflower polysaccharide could significantly increase the apoptosis rate of MDA-MB-435 cells in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01). The results of RT-PCR and Western blotting showed that, compared with the control group, safflower polysaccharide significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR in MDA-MB-435 cells (P < 0.05, 0.01). Conclusion Safflower polysaccharide can effectively inhibit the growth of MDA-MB-435 cells and promote their apoptosis, which may be achieved by blocking the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.