title: α-Solanine Modulates the Radiosensitivity of Esophageal Cancer Cells by Inducing MicroRNA 138 Expression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world. Due to difficulties with performing the operation, most patients choose to have palliative treatment instead. Radiotherapy is one of the main palliative treatments of EC. However, the clinical efficacy of radiotherapy is not satisfactory α-Solanine is a bioactive component of steroidal glycoalkaloids which has been demonstrated to exhibit anti-metastasis activity in different cancers. In the present study, we determined the effect of α-solanine on the radiosensitivity of EC cells and priliminarily explored the underlying molecular mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was conducted to found the cytotoxic effect of α-solanine on EC cells. CCK-8 assay and colony-forming survival assays were performed to explore the effect of α-solanine on cell viability and proliferation of EC cells after irradiation. Immunofluorescence and comet assays were used to detect the effect of α-solanine on DNA repair capacity of EC cells after irradiation. The flow cytometry (FCM) and Hoechst/PI staining were conductd to study the effect of α-solanine on apoptosis of EC cells after irradiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cytotoxic effect of α-solanine to EC cells was dose-dependent. The results of CCK-8, colony-forming survival assay, immunofluorescence, comet assay, FCM and Hoechst/PI staining showed that α-solanine could enhance the radiosensitivity of EC cells. α-Solanine could downregulate Survivin expression level by upregulating miR-138 expression in EC cells. Upregulation of miR-138 and knock down Survivin both enhanced the radiosensitivity of EC cells. Moreover, Survivin could restore the effect of α-solanine and miR-138 on radiosensitivity of EC cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  α-solanine could enhance the radiosensitivity of esophageal cancer cells by inducing microRNA-138 expression, and probably be an effective radiosensitizer in treating EC.
authors.affiliation: School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jianbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Qianqian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiaonan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wenqiao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.forename: Ziming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Guoqiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002452:Cell Count; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D020552:Comet Assay; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D004947:Esophagus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D005720:Gamma Rays; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000819:agonists* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012992:Solanine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077022:Survivin
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; C546110:MIRN138 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D000077022:Survivin; C514919:alpha-solanine; D012992:Solanine