title: Suppression of the notch signaling pathway by γ-secretase inhibitor GSI inhibits human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell proliferation.
abstract: Notch signaling has been suggested to be required for many human cancers. However, the role of Notch signaling in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (NPC) remains unknown. Here, we report that Notch-1, Notch-2, Notch-3 and Notch-4 are all detected in NPC cells. Notch inhibitor, GSI, suppresses the levels of Notch-1, Notch-2 and Notch-4, but not Notch-3. In addition, GSI inhibits NPC cell proliferation by inducing the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Furthermore, GSI inhibits the AKT and MEK signaling, without affecting P38 and JNK1/2. Thus, NPC cells may up-regulate Notch signaling to maintain cell proliferation and targeting the Notch signaling pathway may offer a potential alternative strategy for the treatment of NPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, China.
authors.forename: Shi-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jun-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jun-Xu
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu-Qin
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ze-Zhang
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Tao
mesh_terms: D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D017209:Apoptosis; D006690:Bisbenzimidazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000494:pharmacology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008954:Models, Biological; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D004247:DNA; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D006690:Bisbenzimidazole