Adiponectin exhibits proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects on ovarian cancer cells via PI3K/Akt and Raf/MEK/ERK pathways

  • Yueqin Feng
  • Fengjin Hao
  • Weina Wan
  • Xuemei Wang
Keywords: Adiponectin, Ovarian cancer, Proliferation, Apoptosis, PI3K/Akt pathway

Abstract

Purpose: To elucidate the effects and the underlying mechanism of adiponectin on human ovarian cancer cells.

Methods: The level of adiponectin, adiponectin receptor-1, caspase-3 and bcl-2 in the serum and ascites of the patients were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), qPCR and Western blotting. The human ovarian cancer cell lines (Caov3 and SKOV3) were enumerated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Western blotting was also used to determine the levels of p-Akt, p-ERK and cyclin B.

Results: Serum and ascite levels of adiponectin were significantly higher in ovarian cancer patients than in healthy patients (p < 0.05). Expression of adiponectin in the serum and ascites of patients in FIGO stage IV was remarkably higher than in earlier stages (p < 0.05). The proliferative effect of adiponectin on ovarian cells was dose-dependent. Adiponectin treatment significantly increased the expression of cyclin B in Caov3 and SKOV3, and reduced the levels of caspase-3 and bcl-2. Inhibitors of PI3K and MEK pathways significantly reduced the proliferation of attenuated Caov3 and SKOV3 by up-regulating cyclin B upon adiponectin treatment (p < 0.05), and thus alleviated the inhibitory effect of adiponectin on the expressions of caspase-3 and bcl-2.

Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that adiponectin promotes proliferation of the cells via the PI3K/Akt and Raf/MEK/ERK pathways, and also provide new insights into ovarian cancer treatmment.

Keywords: Adiponectin, Ovarian cancer, Proliferation, Apoptosis, PI3K/Akt pathway

Author Biographies

Yueqin Feng
Department of Ultrasound, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University
Fengjin Hao
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, China
Weina Wan
Department of Ultrasound, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University
Xuemei Wang
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, China
Published
2019-03-16
Section
Articles

Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1596-9827
print ISSN: 1596-5996