title: Rapamycin inhibited the function of lung CSCs via SOX2.
abstract: The presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is the source of occurrence, aggravation, and recurrence of lung cancer. Accordingly, targeting killing the lung CSCs has been suggested to be an effective approach for lung cancer treatment. In this study, we showed that rapamycin inhibited the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signal transduction in A549 cells and improved the sensitivity to cisplatin (DDP). The mechanisms involve inhibition of the SOX2 expression, cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype, and sphere formation. Interestingly, knocked down SOX2 was a similar effect with rapamycin in A549 sphere. Furthermore, we showed that ectopic expression of Sox2 in A549 cells was sufficient to render them more resistant to rapamycin treatment in vitro. These data suggested that rapamycin inhibited the function of lung CSCs via SOX2. It will be of great interest to further explore the therapeutic strategies of lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China.
authors.forename: Li-Xia
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China.
authors.forename: Feng-Feng
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, 637000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bin-Feng
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Song
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
authors.forename: Shi-Cang
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China. xqyencu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Xiao-Qun
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: C527782:SOX2 protein, human; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; D002945:Cisplatin; D020123:Sirolimus
keywords: Cancer stem cell; Lung cancer; Rapamycin; SOX2; mTOR