Berbamine Inhibits Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion and Induces Cell Apoptosis of A549 Cells Via Regulating C-Maf, PI3K/Akt and MDM2-P53 Pathways

Abstract

Background To investigate the influences of berbamine (BBM) on the cell viability, proliferation, and migration of A549 cells in vitro and in vivo, and explore the possible mechanisms.MethodsAfter the A549 cells were treated with BBM, the cell viability and proliferation of the cancer cells were detected by MTT assay, EdU assay, and colony formation assay. Migration and invasion of cancer cells were illustrated through wound scratch assay and transwell assay. Apoptosis of cancer cells was evaluated by trypan blue dye exclusion assay and elisa assay. Beside, the expression of PI3K/Akt signal pathway-related proteins and c-Maf were detected employing western blotting assay. Xenografted model of NSCLC was used to detect the effect of BBM on tumor growth and metastasis in vivo.ResultsMTT assay showed that BBM inhibited the viability of A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner and time-dependent manner. The results from the colony formation assay and EdU assay revealed that BBM (10 µM) could significantly inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells (P＜0.001). And BBM (10 µM) significantly inhibited the migration and invasion in the wound scratch assay and transwell assay (P＜0.05). Trypan blue assay and elisa assay indicated that BBM (20 µM) significantly induced apoptosis of A549 cells. The nude mice assay manifested the tumor volume was significantly shrank by BBM (20 mg/kg) (P＜0.05). Western blotting assay showed that the PI3K/Akt and MDM2-p53 signaling pathways were inhibited by BBM, and the expression of c-Maf was downregulated by BBM. ConclusionsBBM could inhibit the proliferation and metastasis, and induce apoptosis of A549 cells in vitro and in vivo, these effects may be achieved by reducing the expression of c-Maf and regulating the PI3K/Akt and MDM2-p53 pathways.