Experimental study in vitro of ziyuglycoside Ⅱ in inhibition of proliferation, migration, invasion and induction of apoptosis of colon cancer cells

Objective To investigate the effect and its mechanism of ziyuglycoside Ⅱ on proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of colon cancer cells HT-29.

Methods The effect of ziyuglycoside Ⅱ on cell proliferation of colon cancer cells HT-29 was determined by CCK-8 method; the effect of ziyuglycoside Ⅱ on cell migrative capacity of colon cancer cells HT-29 was determined by scratch assay; the effect of ziyuglycoside Ⅱ on cell invasive capacity of colon cancer cells HT-29 was determined by transwell assay; the effects of ziyuglycoside Ⅱ on cell apoptosis of colon cancer cells HT-29 was determined by flow cytometry; the effects of ziyuglycoside Ⅱ on mRNA and protein expression of protein kinase B (AKT)/phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signal pathway were determined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western-blot, respectively.

Results Ziyuglycoside Ⅱ (0, 1, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 μmol/mL) inhibited proliferation of colon cancer cells HT-29 in a dose-dependent manner. Ziyuglycoside Ⅱ (5, 10 and 20 μmol/mL) inhibited migration of colon cancer cells HT-29 in a dose-dependent manner. Ziyuglycoside Ⅱ (5, 10 and 20 μmol/mL) inhibited invasion of colon cancer cells HT-29 in a dose-dependent manner. Ziyuglycoside Ⅱ (5, 10 and 20 μmol/mL) promoted apoptosis of colon cancer cells HT-29 in a dose-dependent manner. Ziyuglycoside Ⅱ (5, 10 and 20 μmol/mL) increased mRNA expression of AKT and PI3K, decreased mRNA expression of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9. Ziyuglycoside Ⅱ (5, 10 and 20 μmol/mL) increased protein expression of phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-AKT) and phosphorylphosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (p-PI3K), increased the expression of Cleaved-Caspase-3 and Cleaved-Caspase-9 protein.

Conclusion Ziyuglycoside Ⅱ can inhibit proliferation, migration and invasion of colon cancer cells HT-29, and promote the apoptosis of colon cancer cells HT-29. Its mechanism may be related to regulating the signal pathway of AKT/PI3K via promoting phosphorylation of AKT and PI3K protein, activation of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 protein.