Saikosaponin-b regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of HepG2 cells by targeting the MACC1/c-Met/Akt signaling pathway

Xing-zhi LYU,Rui-fang LI,Zi-han GAO,Hong-wei WANG,Sang-qiang LI,Jian-gang WANG

(1.Laboratory of Pharmacology and Molecular Biology,Medical College,Henan University of Science and Technology;2.School of Nursing，Henan University of Science and Technology,Luoyang 471023,China）

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Saikosaponin-b regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of HepG2 cells by targeting the MACC1/c-Met/Akt signaling pathway

Xing-zhi LYU1,Rui-fang LI1,Zi-han GAO1,Hong-wei WANG2,Sang-qiang LI1,Jian-gang WANG1

(1.Laboratory of Pharmacology and Molecular Biology,Medical College,Henan University of Science and Technology;2.School of Nursing，Henan University of Science and Technology,Luoyang 471023,China）

OBJECTIVEMetastasis-associated in colon cancer-1(MACC1)is an oncogene that has been newly identified.It promotes tumor proliferation and invasion via the MET pathway.Our study investigated the effects of Saikosaponin-b(SS-b)on the proliferation and apoptosis of HepG2 cells and its regulation on MACC1/c-Met/Akt signaling pathway.METHODSHepG2 cells were treated with SS-b(10-800 g·L-1)for 48 h in vitro.The CCK-8 assay was used to assess cell proliferation,and cell apoptosis was determined by Hoechst33258 staining,AnnexinⅤ/PI staining and caspase 3 assay.RT-PCR was used to examine the expression of MACC1,c-MET and hepatocyte growth factor(HGF)mRNA.MACC1 protein was detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.The protein expressions of p-c-MET,c-MET,p-AKT,AKT,p-BAD,BAD were measured by Western blot.RESULTSSS-b inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells in dose-dependent way and induced cell apoptosis significantly.HepG2 cells showed karyopyknosis,fragmentation and fluorescence highlight in SS-b treatment group.FCM results showed that apoptosis rate of HepG2 cells increased with SS-b concentration.The immunofluores⁃cence results showed that the MACC1 expression decreased significantly in HepG2 cells treated with SS-b.The expression levels of MACC1,c-MET and HGF mRNA in HepG2 cells were significantly inhibited by SS-b.SS-b also significantly decreased the protein expressions of MACC1,p-c-MET and p-AKT while increased the expression of p-BAD and caspase 3 in HepG2 cells（P＜0.05）.CONCLUSIONSS-b inhibited the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of HepG2 cells by targeting the MACC1/c-Met/Akt signaling pathway.

saikosaponin-b;metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1;c-Met signaling;hepatocellular carcinoma

The project supported by Scientific and Technology Projects of Henan Province(142102310137);and Science and Technology Development Project of Luoyang City(1603001A-3)

Rui-fang LI,Tel:15090195676,E-mail：ylliruifang@163.com