Osthole induces apoptosis of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma SW962 through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aim: To investigate the effect of osthole on inducing apoptosis and inhibiting the proliferation of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma SW962 cells through PDK/Akt signaling pathway and changes of PDK/Akt pathway protein in the coexistence of osthole and IGF-1. Methods: Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma SW962 cells were cultured in vitro and different concentrations of osthole intervention were given. The effect of osthole on the proliferation of SW962 cells was determined by MTT. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. DAPI staining revealed the changes in cellular morphology. The expressions of cleaved-caspase-3, PI3K, p-Akt, Bcl-2, Bax protein in SW962 cells were assessed by Western blot. Results: MTT results showed that osthole could inhibit the proliferation of SW962 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The results of DAPI staining and FCM by Annexin V-FITC and PI staining indicated osthole induced apoptosis of SW962 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blot showed that osthole increased the expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 and decreased the expression of Bcl-2, PI3K, p-Akt. IGF-1 induced increased expression of PI3K, p-Akt and Bcl-2, while osthole reversed IGF-1 and down-regulated the expression of three proteins. Conclusions: Osthole induces the apoptosis and inhibits the proliferation of SW962 in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma by inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.