Objective To investigate the mechanism of ibuprofen regulating the migration and invasion of liver cancer QGY-7703 cells via PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.
Methods The liver cancer QGY-7703 cells were divided randomly into control group(C group) and experimental group(B group). Then the experimental group was divided into three subgroups cultured by ibuprofen at different concentrations (B1-3 groups). Group B1 was exposed to ibuprofen with the final concentrations of 250 μmol/L, Group B2 with 500 μmol/L ibuprofen, and Group B3 with 1 000 μmol/L ibuprofen. The control group was exposed to normovolemic RPMIl640 nutrient solution. The migration and invasion of cells with diverse incubating time in different groups were determined by Transwell after 24, 48 or 72h. Real-time PCR was used to measure the expression levels of PI3K, PTEN, MMP-9 mRNA; Western blot was used to evaluate the expression levels of PTEN, Akt, p-Akt, mTOR, p-mTOR, MMP-9 protein after being incubated for 48h.
Results Compared with C group, the abilities of migration and invasion in the B1-3 groups were significantly decreased in concentration- and time-dependent manner(P<0.01). Compared with C group, the expression levels of PTEN mRNA and protein in B1-3 groups were up-regulated in a concentration-dependent manner with statistical differences(P<0.05). Compared with C group, the expression levels of Akt, mTOR protein and PI3K mRNA had no significant difference(P>0.05). Compared with C group, the expression levels of p-Akt, p-mTOR, MMP-9 protein and MMP-9 mRNA were down-regulated in B1-3 groups, with negative correlation with ibuprofen-treated concentration(P<0.05).
Conclusion Ibuprofen could inhibit the migration and invasion of liver cancer QGY-7703 cells, which might be related to PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal pathway.
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