Interaction of Pten gene and AKT/mTOR pathway in endometrial adenocarcinoma proliferation

Abstract

Objective: The Pten/AKT/mTOR pathway is one of the most critical pathways in tumor proliferation. The present research aimed to analyze the interaction between Pten gene and AKT/mTOR pathway in endometrial cancer cell lines. Methods: TCGA analysis was used to study the relationship between Pten expression and survival of endometrial cancer patients. Human endometrial cancer cell lines with low Pten expression (Ishikawa) and with high Pten expression (HEC-1-A) were selected. Plasmid transfection was used to regulate the Pten expression in the cell lines. QRT-PCR and Western Blot were adopted to detect Pten/AKT/mTOR expressions in tumor cells. Western blot of Ki-67 and CCK-8 were adopted to detect the activity of cells proliferation. A p < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The TCGA analysis showed the Pten expression was associated with survival of endometrial cancer patients significantly. Plasmid transfections elevated Pten expression in Ishikawa and decreased Pten expression in HEC-1-A cells. After the plasmid transfection, with overexpression of Pten in Ishikawa cell line, the Western Blot and QRT-PCR revealed the AKT/mTOR pathway is restrained, leading to decreased cell proliferation; with Pten decreased in HEC-1-A cells, the AKT/mTOR pathway is activated, leading to increased cell proliferation. Conclusions: A decreased expression of Pten gene in Ishikawa and HEC-1-A cell lines could activate AKT/mTOR pathway and promote tumor cells proliferation.