title: Cationic poly(amidoamine) dendrimers induced cyto-protective autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
abstract: Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers are proposed as one of the most promising nanomaterials for biomedical applications because of their unique tree-like structure, monodispersity and tunable properties. In this study, we found that PAMAM dendrimers could induce the formation of autophagosomes and the conversion of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells, while the inhibition of the Akt/mTOR and activation of the Erk 1/2 signaling pathways were involved in autophagy-induced by PAMAM dendrimers. We also investigated the suppression of autophagy with the obviously enhanced cytotoxicity of PAMAM dendrimers. Moreover, the blockage of a reactive oxygen species (ROS) could enhance the growth inhibition and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, induced by PAMAM dendrimers through reducing autophagic effects. Taken together, these findings explored the role and mechanism of autophagy induced by PAMAM dendrimers in HepG2 cells, provided new insight into the effect of autophagy on drug delivery nanomaterials and tumor cells and contributed to the use of a drug delivery vehicle for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.
authors.forename: Yubin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shaofei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ziyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaolu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Jiajun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Meiqing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Dianwen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ju
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D002412:Cations; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000187:drug effects; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002412:Cations; D050091:Dendrimers; D058847:Inflammasomes; C104700:PAMAM Starburst; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species