Effects of pholidotaphenanthrene A on proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and cell cycle progression of hepatocellular carcinoma HCCLM3 cells

AIM

To investigate the effects of pholidotaphenanthrene A (PPTA) on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and cell cycle progression of hepatocellular carcinoma HCCLM3 cells and the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, flow cytometry and wound healing assay were used to evaluate the effects of PPTA on the viability, cell cycle progression and migration of HCCLM3 cells, respectively. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot assays were performed to explore the effects of PPTA on F-actin distribution, the formation of lamellipodia and filopodia, and the expression of related signaling molecules.

RESULTS

PPTA decreased the viability of HCCLM3 cells, with IC₅₀ < 50 μmol/L. PPTA at a dose of 40 μmol/L obviously delayed the cell cycle progression of HCCLM3 cells. Results of wound healing assay showed that PPTA can inhibit the relative healing rate of HCCLM3 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Immunofluorescence staining showed that HCCLM3 cells after incubation with different concentrations of PPTA displayed more close arrangement, decreased lamellipodia formation and increased filopodia formation, especially in cells treated with PPTA at a dose of 40 μmol/L. Western blot analysis showed that PPTA at 20 and 40 μmol/L can up-regulate protein kinase B(AKT) and down-regulate pAKT expression.

CONCLUSION

PPTA can inhibit the proliferation, cycle progression, and migration HCCLM3 cells possibly via mechanisms related to altering the levels of pAKT and pERK.