Effects of aloe-emodin on autophagy, apoptosis and migration of colorectal carcinoma LOVO cells

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of aloe-emodin on Akt/mTOR, apoptosis and migration of autophagy-related pathway in colorectal cancer LOVO cells. Methods The LOVO cells were divided into control group (normal culture), low dose group (LOVO cells + 10 μmol/L aloe-emodin culture 30 min), medium dose group (LOVO cells + 30 μmol/L aloe-emodin culture 30 min) and high dose group (LOVO cells + 50 μmol/L aloe veratin culture 30 min). The cell proliferation rate was measured by CCk-8 method at 24, 48 and 72 h respectively. The apoptotic rate of each group was detected by flow cytometry. The migration ability of each group was detected by Transwell chamber. Western blot was used to detect the expression of IC3-Ⅰ, IC3-Ⅱ, Beclin-1, mTOR, p-mTOR, Akt and p-Akt. Results Compared with that of the control group, the cell rate, migration ability and apoptosis rate of the low dose group was not significantly changed (P > 0.05). The cell rate and migration ability of the medium and high dose groups was significantly decreased and the apoptosis rate was significantly increased:0.43 ± 0.03, 0.59 ± 0.04 vs. 0.16 ± 0.00; 0.57 ± 0.07, 1.06 ± 0.17 vs. 0.34 ± 0.02; 0.37 ± 0.02, 0.49 ± 0.01 vs. 0.13 ± 0.00, P 0.05), those were decreased in middle and high dose groups which showed significant differences: 0.85 ± 0.08, 0.37 ± 0.02 vs. 2.08 ± 0.07; 1.42 ± 0.09, 1.19 ± 0.02 vs. 1.97 ± 0.11; 0.97 ± 0.00, 0.84 ± 0.06 vs. 1.19 ± 0.02; 0.43 ± 0.02, 0.31 ± 0.01 vs. 0.98 ± 0.08, P < 0.05, there were dose dependent (P < 0.05). Conclusions Aloe-emodin can promote autophagy, apoptosis there inhibit the growth, migration of colorectal cancer LOVO cells by reducing the expression of Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and reducing its phosphorylation level. Key words: Aloe-emodin; Colorectal neoplasm; Autophagy; Proliferation; Migration