Title:Pseudo-ginsenoside Rh2 Induces Protective Autophagy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma HepG2 Cells
Volume: 16
Issue: 4
Author(s): Fuyuan Zhang, Huali Xu, Rui Xia, Ping Yu, Yuangeng Li, Xiaofeng Yu and Dayun Sui*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun,China
Keywords:
AMPK, apoptosis, autophagy, HepG2 cells, mTOR, pseudo-ginsenoside Rh2.
Abstract:
Background: Pseudo-ginsenoside-Rh2 (pseudo-G-Rh2), a novel derivative of ginsenoside
Rh2, is reported to exert a pro-apoptotic effect on various malignancies. However, whether
this anti-cancer action of pseudo-G-Rh2 involves autophagy remains to be determined and explored.
Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the pseudo-G-Rh2-induced apoptosis and
autophagy and the underlying mechanism.
Methods: In the present study, the MTT assay was used for evaluating cell viability, and the lactate
dehydrogenase (LDH) assay was performed to assess cell toxicity. Autophagy evaluation was performed
using monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining and transmission electron microscopy
(TEM). The levels of autophagy-associated and apoptosis-associated proteins were determined using
Western blotting. The Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) assay was used to assess apoptosis.
Results: The Annexin V-FITC/PI assay revealed that the percentage of apoptotic cells in HepG2
cells at concentrations 0, 20, 40, and 60 μM was 3.75%±1.37%, 5.70%±1.04%, 12.30%±2.10%,
and 34.26%±4.73%, respectively. Pseudo-G-Rh2 was observed to significantly increase the expressions
of BAX, cleaved-caspase-3, and cleaved-caspase-9, while it decreased the Bcl-2 expression.
MDC and TEM analysis revealed that pseudo-G-Rh2 at concentrations 20, 40, and 60 μM significantly
facilitated the accumulation of autophagosomes and autolysosomes within the HepG2 cells.
Moreover, pseudo-G-Rh2 significantly increased the expressions of LC3 II/LC3 I and Beclin-1 and
decreased the expression of p62. The Annexin V-FITC/PI assay also revealed that in comparison to
the pseudo-G-Rh2 group, the concurrent treatment with pseudo-G-Rh2 and an autophagy inhibitor
(CQ or 3-MA) significantly induced distinct apoptosis. In addition, pseudo-G-Rh2 activated
AMPK and inhibited the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in a concentration-dependent manner. Pseudo-
G-Rh2 is similar to the current patents, which enhanced its anti-cancer activity by combining
with autophagy inhibitors.
Conclusion: Pseudo-G-Rh2 could induce protective autophagy in HepG2 cells, at least in part, via
AMPK and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.
