Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (Jan 2019)
Neferine inhibits growth and migration of gastrointestinal stromal tumor cell line GIST-T1 by up-regulation of miR-449a
Abstract
Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) threatens the health of middle-aged and older people with high recurrence rate and low survival rate. In this study, Neferin (Nef) was hoped to control growth and migration of GIST cell line GIST-T1. Methods: Cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, and migration were determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assay, Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining method, and Transwell assay, respectively. The expression level of miR-449a was determined by qRT-PCR. Cell transfection was conducted to alter the expression level of miR-449a. Protein expression levels of key factors involved in cell cycle, cell apoptosis, cell migration, PI3K/AKT pathway and Notch pathways were analyzed by western boltting. Results: Nef significantly inhibited GIST-T1 cell viability, proliferation, migration, but promoted cell apoptosis. The expression level of miR-449a was up-regulated in GIST-T1 cells after Nef treatment. Suppression of miR-449a reversed the Nef-induced GIST-T1 cell proliferation and migration inhibition, as well as cell apoptosis. Importantly, Nef inactivated PI3K/AKT and Notch pathways in GIST-T1 cells by up-regulating miR-449a. Inhibitors of PI3K/AKT and Notch pathways notably reversed the effects of Nef + miR-449a inhibitor on GIST-T1 cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration. Besides, Nef also suppressed human gastric cancer SGC7901 cell migration and induced cell apoptosis. Conclusion: Nef suppressed growth and migration of GIST-T1 cells possibly via up-regulation of miR-449a and then inactivation of PI3K/AKT and Notch pathways.
