Mechanisms for propofol in inhibiting the proliferation and invasion of glioma U87 cells and its effect on miR-134 expression.

Abstract

To investigate the effects of propofol on the proliferation and invasion of glioma U87 cells and to explore the possible anti-tumor mechanisms. The glioma U87 cells was divided into a blank group, a positive control group, and the propofol groups (1.00, 2.00 or 5.00 mmol/L). Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect cell proliferation; Transwell method was used to detect the effect of propofol on invasion and migration of U87 cells; real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of microRNA-134 (miR-134); Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of reproduction-related protein Ki-67, invasion-related protein metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway-related protein. Compared with the blank group, the proliferation, invasion and migration capacity of U87 cells were reduced in the positive control group and the propofol groups after 48 hours (all P<0.05), along with the decreased expression of Ki-67, MMP-2 and MMP-9 and the ratio of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt (all P<0.05), while the level of miR-134 was increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the positive control group and the 1.00 mmol/L propofol-treated group, the proliferation, invasion and migration capacity of U87 cells, the expression of Ki-67, MMP-2 and MMP-9, and the ratio of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt was decreased significantly after 48 hours (all P<0.05), while the level of miR-134 was increased significantly in the 2.00 and 5.00 mmol/L propofol-treated groups (both P<0.05). Compared with the 2.00 mmol/L propofol-treated group, the proliferation, invasion and migration capacity of U87 cells, the expression of Ki-67, MMP-2 and MMP-9, and the ratio of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt was decreased significantly after 48 hours in the 5.00 mmol/L propofol-treated group (all P<0.05), while the level of miR-134 was increased significantly (P<0.05). Propofol can decrease the proliferation rate, and the invasion and migration abilities of U87 cells, which may be achieved by up-regulation of miR-134 and suppression of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.