RETRACTED ARTICLE: Propofol suppresses growth, migration and invasion of A549 cells by down-regulation of miR-372

Hai Sun,Dengyu Gao

doi:10.1186/s12885-018-5175-y

Abstract

BackgroundPropofol, a commonly used intravenous anesthetic during cancer resection surgery, has been found to exhibit tumor inhibitory effects in vitro and in vivo. The role of propofol in lung cancer has been previously reported, whereas its action mechanism remains unclear. This study further investigated the effects of propofol on lung cancer A549 cell growth, migration and invasion, as well as the underlying mechanisms.MethodsCell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis were assessed by CCK-8 assay, BrdU assay, two chamber transwell assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The regulatory effect of propofol on microRNA-372 (miR-372) expression in A549 cells was analyzed by qRT-PCR. Cell transfection was used to change the expression of miR-372. The protein expression of key factors involving in cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion, as well as Wnt/β-catenin and mTOR pathways were analyzed by western blotting.ResultsPropofol inhibited lung cancer A549 cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion, but promoted cell apoptosis. Moreover, miR-372 was down-regulated in propofol-treated A549 cells. Overexpression of miR-372 abrogated the effects of propofol on proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of A549 cells. Knockdown of miR-372 had opposite effects. Furthermore, propofol suppressed Wnt/β-catenin and mTOR signaling pathways by down-regulating miR-372.ConclusionPropofol inhibits growth, migration and invasion of lung cancer A549 cells at least in part by down-regulating miR-372 and then inactivating Wnt/β-catenin and mTOR pathways.

Highlights

Lung cancer is the most leading cause of cancer-related deaths all around the world, which accounts for approximately 1.8 million new cases and 1.2 million deaths each year [1, 2]
We further investigated the effects of propofol on proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of lung cancer A549 cells
These results suggested that propofol could effectively suppress A549 cell growth, but induced cell apoptosis

Summary

Introduction

Lung cancer is the most leading cause of cancer-related deaths all around the world, which accounts for approximately 1.8 million new cases and 1.2 million deaths each year [1, 2]. The 5-year survival rates of patients with lung cancer vary from 4 to 17% depending on different histological features and disease stage [3]. Advances in diagnosis and therapeutic strategies, including percutaneous lung biopsy, tumor marker detection, surgical, medicine, and radiological intervention, still doesn’t effectively improved the long-term survival rate of lung cancer patients [4, 5]. In terms of lung cancer, Liu et al proved that propofol inhibited the growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. A commonly used intravenous anesthetic during cancer resection surgery, has been found to exhibit tumor inhibitory effects in vitro and in vivo. This study further investigated the effects of propofol on lung cancer A549 cell growth, migration and invasion, as well as the underlying mechanisms

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion