CXC195 induces apoptosis and endoplastic reticulum stress in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.
CXC195 exhibits strong protective effects against neuronal apoptosis by exerting antioxidant activity. However, the pharmacological function of CXC195 in cancer remains to be elucidated. The present study demonstrated that CXC195 exhibited significant cytotoxic effects, and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines. Following treatment of HepG2 cells with 150 µΜ CXC195 for 24 , cell viability and the apoptotic rate were assessed using an MTT assay and Annexin V/propidium iodide staining followed by ﬂow cytometric analysis. Molecular markers of the cell cycle, apoptosis, mitochondrial function and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress were analyzed by western blot or polymerase chain reaction analysis. Caspase activation, cytochrome c and apoptosis‑inducing factor release, and analysis of the B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‑2)‑associated X protein/Bcl‑2 ratio demonstrated that the anticancer effects of CXC195 in HepG2 cells were mediated by caspase and mitochondria‑dependent apoptosis. CXC195 also induced the expression of ER stress‑associated proteins, including CCAAT‑enhancer‑binding protein homologous protein, and glucose‑regulated proteins 94 and 78, and led to the activation of multiple branches of ER stress transducers, including inositol‑requiring enzyme 1α‑apoptosis signal‑regulating kinase‑p38/c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase, and protein kinase R‑like endoplasmic reticulum kinase‑eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α‑activating transcription factor (ATF)4 and ATF6, in the HepG2 cells. In addition, CXC195 inhibited the phosphorylation of phosphoinositide 3‑kinase (PI3K), Akt and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in the HepG2 cells. These effects were enhanced following treatment with selected inhibitors of PI3K (LY294002), Akt (SH‑6) and mTOR (rapamycin). Furthermore, these inhibitors enhanced the pro‑apoptotic effects of CXC195 in the HepG2 cells. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that CXC195 induced apoptosis and ER stress in HepG2 cells through the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.
Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.
Xiao-Liang
XL
Chen
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.
Jian-Ping
JP
Fu
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.
Jun
J
Shi
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.
Ping
P
Wan
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.
Hong
H
Cao
Department of Oncology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.
Zhi-Mou
ZM
Tang
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D059865:Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D010879:Piperazines; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D011719:Pyrazines; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; C552200:CXC 195; C546842:MTOR protein, human