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Elemene inhibits the growth and promotes apoptosis of bladder cancer cells through PTEN-Akt signaling pathway


Yuhan Pei
Yuying He
Shen Geng
Cai Tang
Jiaxin Dai
Zhenshuai Ji
Cheng Xie
Yunlai Zhi
Chengkuan Cai
Fanghu Sun

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the influence of elemene on growth and apoptotic changes in bladder cancer cells, and the involvement of the phosphatase and  tensin homologous protein (PTEN)-serine/threonine kinase (Akt) signal pathway in the process.


Methods: Human bladder cell line SV-HUC-1 and human bladder cancer cell line T24 were randomly assigned to blank control group and elemene  groups. Protein expression levels of apoptosis-related factors (Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3] and PTEN, Akt, and p-Akt in both cells were determined using western blot assay.


Results: In T24 cells, the protein level of Bcl-2 was significantly higher in elemene group than in blank control, while the protein expression levels of Bax  and caspase-3 in elemene group were significantly lower than the corresponding levels in blank control group (p < 0.05). The protein expression of PTEN level in T24 cells was significantly higher in elemene group than in blank control group, while protein expression level of p-Akt was significantly lower in  elemene group than in blank control (p < 0.05). The Akt protein expression was comparable in elemene and blank control groups.


Conclusion: Elemene inhibits the growth and enhances apoptosis of bladder cancer cells through a mechanism involving up-regulation of the expression  of PTEN and suppression of the expression of pAkt.


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1596-9827
print ISSN: 1596-5996