Molecular Mechanism of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase (PI3K)/Protein Kinase B (AKT) Signaling Pathway-Mediated Autophagy in Gastric Cancer

Abstract

Gastric cancer seriously threats to the life and health of patient. Abnormal autophagy is related to several diseases, such as aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and gastric cancer. PI3K/Akt signaling mediates multiple biological processes including autophagy. The role of autophagy in gastric cancer and its potential clinical value remains to be further discussed. This study explores the clinical significance of PI3K/Akt signaling in autophagy. Gastric cancer patients received surgeries in our hospital were enrolled as subjects. The tumor tissue and paracarcinoma tissue were extracted. PI3K/Akt signaling pathway activation and autophagy molecular P62 and LC3 expressions were detected by Western blot. Their relationship was evaluated using Pearson correlation analysis. Gastric cancer cell line MKN-45 was treated by LY294002. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. PI3K/Akt signaling pathway significantly activated, while P62 and LC3 levels obviously declined in gastric cancer tissue compared with adjacent normal control. PI3K/Akt signaling activity was apparently negatively correlated with autophagy level and its inhibition significantly enhanced MKN-45 cell autophagy and reduced cell viability. PI3K/Akt signaling mediates autophagy in gastric cancer. Induction of autophagy might be beneficial for treating gastric cancer.