An activated mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines and inhibition of the pathway by rapamycin and siRNA against mTOR.
mTOR/p70S6K pathway is considered a central regulator in various malignant tumors, but its roles in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), which is a common cause of mortality in China, remain unknown. Here, we identify that the mTOR/p70S6K pathway is activated in ESCC; rapamycin and siRNA against mTOR rapidly inhibited expression of mTOR and the phosphorylation of its major downstream effectors, p70S6K and 4E-BP1, arrested cells in the G(0)/G(1) phase and induced apoptosis of ESCC cells. The findings may lay a foundation for making further investigations on the mTOR/p70S6K pathway as a potential target for ESCC therapy.
Hou
Guiqin
G
Laboratory for Cell Biology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, 40 Daxue Road, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, PR China.
Xue
Lexun
L
Lu
Zhaoming
Z
Fan
Tianli
T
Tian
Fang
F
Xue
Yanli
Y
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology*; D038762:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D014162:Transfection; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D011494:Protein Kinases; C546842:MTOR protein, human; D038762:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D020123:Sirolimus