Open Access

Hydroxysafflor yellow A induces autophagy in human liver cancer cells by regulating Beclin 1 and ERK expression

  • Authors:
    • Ziwei Chen
    • Li Liu
    • Yueyun Liu
    • Shuyan Wang
    • Shujing Zhang
    • Ruijuan Dong
    • Mingyang Xu
    • Yicong Ma
    • Jingjing Wang
    • Qian Zhang
    • Peng Wei
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: February 25, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.8552
  • Pages: 2989-2996
  • Copyright: © Chen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) is a water‑soluble component of the safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), and research has revealed that HSYA exhibits antitumor effects. In the present study, the effects of HSYA on the autophagy of a Hep‑G2 liver cancer cell line, as well as the underlying mechanisms, were investigated. Hep‑G2 cells were treated with HSYA and the viability of cells was measured using an MTT assay. Western blotting and immunofluorescence assays were performed to determine the expression of light chain 3 II (LC3‑II) and p62, as well as the autophagy regulators Beclin 1 and ERK1/2. Transmission electron microscopy was performed to observe the formation of autophagosomes. The combined effects of HSYA and the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) were also determined. The results revealed that the viability of Hep‑G2 cells decreased with increasing concentrations of HSYA. Furthermore, LC3‑II expression increased significantly and the level of p62 decreased significantly in the HYSA group compared with the control group. Additionally, an increase in Beclin 1 expression and a decrease in phosphorylated‑ERK1/2 expression was observed in Hep‑G2 cells treated with HYSA. Following treatment with CQ and HSYA, a significant increase in the viability of Hep‑G2 cells was observed compared with the HSYA group. Collectively, the results indicated that HSYA induced autophagy by promoting the expression of Beclin 1 and inhibiting the phosphorylation of ERK in liver cancer cells. Therefore, HSYA may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for liver cancer.
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April-2020
Volume 19 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Chen Z, Liu L, Liu Y, Wang S, Zhang S, Dong R, Xu M, Ma Y, Wang J, Zhang Q, Zhang Q, et al: Hydroxysafflor yellow A induces autophagy in human liver cancer cells by regulating Beclin 1 and ERK expression. Exp Ther Med 19: 2989-2996, 2020
APA
Chen, Z., Liu, L., Liu, Y., Wang, S., Zhang, S., Dong, R. ... Wei, P. (2020). Hydroxysafflor yellow A induces autophagy in human liver cancer cells by regulating Beclin 1 and ERK expression. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 19, 2989-2996. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.8552
MLA
Chen, Z., Liu, L., Liu, Y., Wang, S., Zhang, S., Dong, R., Xu, M., Ma, Y., Wang, J., Zhang, Q., Wei, P."Hydroxysafflor yellow A induces autophagy in human liver cancer cells by regulating Beclin 1 and ERK expression". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 19.4 (2020): 2989-2996.
Chicago
Chen, Z., Liu, L., Liu, Y., Wang, S., Zhang, S., Dong, R., Xu, M., Ma, Y., Wang, J., Zhang, Q., Wei, P."Hydroxysafflor yellow A induces autophagy in human liver cancer cells by regulating Beclin 1 and ERK expression". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 19, no. 4 (2020): 2989-2996. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.8552