title: [Curcumin induces apoptosis by PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway in EC109 cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the molecular mechanism of curcumin in human esophageal carcinoma cell line (EC109).
  
  
  METHODS
  EC109 cells were cultivated in vitro. When 80%-90% confluence was reached, they were treated with curcumin in different concentrations (15-120 µmol/L). The effects on cell proliferation were examined by CCK-8 colorimetry. The ultrastructure of EC109 cells were detected with transmission electron microscope(TEM). The cells apoptosis was observed with laser confocal microscope(LCM) by AnnexinV-FITC/PI double staining. The proteins level of PTEN, AKT, GSK3β and Caspase 3 were tested by flow cytometry(FCM) .
  
  
  RESULTS
  CCK-8 test showed that curcumin could inhibit the proliferation of EC109 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. TEM and LCM examinations indicated that curcumin could make EC109 cells apoptosis. The data of FCM showed that curcumin could increase the expression of PTEN, GSK3β and Caspase 3, decreased the expression of AKT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effects of curcumin on inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis of EC109 cells were related with increased expression of PTEN and inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
authors.forename: Xiu-juan
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu-zhen
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chun-ting
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Hai-jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D006801:Humans; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000378:metabolism; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; C000605506:GSK3B protein, human; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D003474:Curcumin