Autophagic inhibitor attenuates rapamycin-induced inhibition of proliferation in cultured A549 lung cancer cells.
BACKGROUND
Increasing studies have suggested that rapamycin has inhibitory effect for cancer cell proliferation.


OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to investigate the effect of rapamycin on the proliferation of A549 lung cancer cells and try to elucidate its probable mechanism.


METHODS
A549 cells were randomly divided into the following 3 groups (n=6): the Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) culture solution administered alone group (C group), the 10 nmol/l rapamycin administered alone group (R group) and the 5 mmol/l 3-methyladenine (3-MA) plus 10 nmol/l rapamycin administered group (MR group). Death percentage of A549 cells was observed and the levels of caspase-3, Beclin-1, and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II (LC3-II) were determined.


RESULTS
Compared with C group, percentage of cell death, caspase-3, Beclin-1 and LC3-II both showed a significant increase in R group (p < 0.05). On the contrary, as compared with R group, percentage of cell death, caspase-3, Beclin-1 and LC3-II both showed a significant decrease in MR group (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Rapamycin has an inhibitory effect for the proliferation of A549 cells, and its mechanism is likely related to the activation of autophagic pathway.
Department of Radiation Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China. wangzhigang2012@126.com.
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Wang
D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects*; D000071186:Beclin-1; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000494:pharmacology*
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C491997:BECN1 protein, human; D000071186:Beclin-1; C477012:MAP1LC3A protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; C025946:3-methyladenine; D053148:Caspase 3; D000225:Adenine; D020123:Sirolimus