Triptolide inhibits the proliferation and promotes apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer cell line A549

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of triptolide (TP) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human non-small cell lung cancer cell A549 by regulating the expression of chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) gene. Methods The experiment was divided into 4 groups: control group, TP group (100 nm/L TP-treated cells), CXCR4+TP group (transfected plasmid TP-treated cells) and NC+TP group (empty plasmid TP-treated cells). The expression of CXCR4 and transfection were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot. Cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay, apoptosis was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining, proliferation and apoptosis-related protein expression were detected by Western blot. Results Triptolide inhibited the expression of CXCR4 mRNA and protein in A549 cells (P＜0.05). Triptolide inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells and induced apoptosis(P＜0.05). Transfection of pcDNA-CXCR4 up-regulated the expression of CXCR4 mRNA and protein (P＜0.05). Up-regulation of CXCR4 expression partially reversed the effect of triptolide on proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction of A549 cells (P＜0.05). Conclusions Triptolide may inhibit the proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells and induce apoptosis by down-regulating the expression of CXCR4.

Keywords

• triptolide|cxcr4 gene|non-small cell lung cancer cell line a549|proliferation|apoptosis