Saikosaponin-d increases radiation-induced apoptosis of hepatoma cells by promoting autophagy via inhibiting mTOR phosphorylation

Wang, Baofeng; Min, Weili; Lin, Shuai; Song, Lingqin; Yang, Pengtao; Ma, Qingyong; Guo, Jian

doi:10.7150/ijms.53024



Theranostics

International Journal of Biological Sciences

Nanotheranostics

Journal of Cancer

Journal of Genomics

Global reach, higher impact

Full Text | PDF

Int J Med Sci 2021; 18(6):1465-1473. doi:10.7150/ijms.53024 This issue Cite

Research Paper

Saikosaponin-d increases radiation-induced apoptosis of hepatoma cells by promoting autophagy via inhibiting mTOR phosphorylation

Baofeng Wang^1,3*, Weili Min^2*, Shuai Lin², Lingqin Song², Pengtao Yang¹, Qingyong Ma^3✉, Jian Guo^3✉

1. Department of Radiation Therapy, Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China.
2. Department of Surgical Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China.
3. Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China.
* These authors contributed equally to this work.

Citation:

Wang B, Min W, Lin S, Song L, Yang P, Ma Q, Guo J. Saikosaponin-d increases radiation-induced apoptosis of hepatoma cells by promoting autophagy via inhibiting mTOR phosphorylation. Int J Med Sci 2021; 18(6):1465-1473. doi:10.7150/ijms.53024. https://www.medsci.org/v18p1465.htm

Other styles

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of saikosaponin-d (SSd) on autophagy activity and radiosensitivity of hepatoma cells, and to elucidate its related molecular mechanisms.

Methods: The growth of SMMC-7721 and MHCC97L hepatoma cells were detected by clonal formation and survival fraction. Flow cytometry was used to detect the changes of apoptosis of hepatoma cells. The morphological changes of autophagy of hepatoma cells were observed by transmission electron microscopy and were further quantitatively detected by laser confocal microscopy. The expressions of related proteins were detected by Western blotting.

Results: SSd can significantly increase the apoptosis of hepatoma cells induced by radiation and inhibit the proliferation of hepatoma cells. The addition of the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) or an mTOR agonist (MHY1485), which could reduce the promoting effect of SSd on radiation-induced apoptosis and inhibitory effect on the proliferation of hepatoma cells. Transmission electron microscopy and confocal microscopy results also showed that the number of autophagosomes was significantly higher in the radiation and SSd co-treatment group than in the radiotherapy or SSd alone group; however, the effect of SSd on autophagy in hepatoma cells was decreased after adding MHY1485, siRNA-P53 or AMPK inhibitor (Compound C). Western blot analysis showed that after the addition of SSd, the phosphorylation of mTOR was significantly decreased by radiation, the expression of the autophagy-related proteins LC3-II and Beclin-1 was increased, p62 was decreased, and the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP was enhanced; this effect of SSd was partially reversed after the addition of MHY1485, siRNA-P53 or Compound C.

Conclusions: SSd increases radiation-induced apoptosis of hepatoma cells by promoting autophagy via inhibiting mTOR phosphorylation and providing a possible potential approach for radiosensitization therapy of liver cancer.

Keywords: Saikosaponin-d, Radiation, Autophagy, mTOR.

Citation styles

APA

Wang, B., Min, W., Lin, S., Song, L., Yang, P., Ma, Q., Guo, J. (2021). Saikosaponin-d increases radiation-induced apoptosis of hepatoma cells by promoting autophagy via inhibiting mTOR phosphorylation. International Journal of Medical Sciences, 18(6), 1465-1473. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijms.53024.

ACS

Wang, B.; Min, W.; Lin, S.; Song, L.; Yang, P.; Ma, Q.; Guo, J. Saikosaponin-d increases radiation-induced apoptosis of hepatoma cells by promoting autophagy via inhibiting mTOR phosphorylation. Int. J. Med. Sci. 2021, 18 (6), 1465-1473. DOI: 10.7150/ijms.53024.

NLM

CSE

Wang B, Min W, Lin S, Song L, Yang P, Ma Q, Guo J. 2021. Saikosaponin-d increases radiation-induced apoptosis of hepatoma cells by promoting autophagy via inhibiting mTOR phosphorylation. Int J Med Sci. 18(6):1465-1473.

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). See http://ivyspring.com/terms for full terms and conditions.