Role of high mobility group box-1 in chemo-sensitivity in cervical cancer

Abstract

To determine mechanisms for the role of high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) to platinum based chemo-sensitivity in cervical cancer. Methods: Using Western blot, we examined the effect of cisplatin on expressions of LC3, Beclin1 and P62 in cervical cancer. After treated with autophagy inhibitor and/or cisplatin in HeLa and CaSki cells, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to evaluate the chemo-sensitivity. The expression of LC3, Beclin1 and P62 were detected by Western blot. We established HeLa-shHMGB1, CaSki-shHMGB1 and HeLa-CTR, CaSki-CTR stable cell lines. CCK-8 assay was used to determine the chemosensitivity in these cell lines. Using Western blot, we examined the correlation among the expressions of HMGB1, LC3, Beclin1, and P62. Results: With the increase of cisplatin, the expression of LC3 and Beclin1 was increased, while the expression of P62 was decreased in HeLa and CaSki cell lines. Combination of cisplatin with autophagy inhibitor could increase the cellular sensitivity to cisplatin (P<0.05). The expression of HMGB1 was related to chemo-sensitivity and autophagy related protein in cervical cancer cells. HMGB1 was positively correlated with LC3 and Beclin1 while negatively correlated with P62 (P<0.05). Conclusion: HMGB1 might play an important role in chemo-sensitivity via regulating autophagic activity. The combination of cisplatin with autophagy inhibitor might become a possible strategy for cervical cancer. HMGB1 might serve as a potential biomarker for predicting chemo-therapeutic responses.