Ghrelin inhibits cisplatin‑induced MDA‑MB‑231 breast cancer cell apoptosis via PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling

Zhang,Jinyu; Xie,Tianhao

doi:10.3892/etm.2019.8398

Ghrelin inhibits cisplatin‑induced MDA‑MB‑231 breast cancer cell apoptosis via PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling

Authors:
- Jinyu Zhang
- Tianhao Xie
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Affiliations: Department of Oncology, Medical College of Heibei University, Baoding, Hebei 071000, P.R. China, Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071000, P.R. China
Published online on: December 31, 2019 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2019.8398
Pages: 1633-1640
Copyright: © Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Ghrelin is a multi‑functional peptide, its role on cancer cell apoptosis remains controversial. The present study examined the effects and mechanisms of ghrelin on cisplatin‑induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells. It was identified that ghrelin inhibited apoptosis in MDA‑MB‑231 cells in vitro and reversed the expression of B‑cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) and Bcl2‑associated X, and cleaved caspase‑3 induced by cisplatin. Furthermore, ghrelin activated the phosphoinositide 3‑kinases/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) signaling pathway after cisplatin treatment. The effects of ghrelin on the cisplatin‑induced apoptosis and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling were reversed by the growth hormone secretagogue receptor small interfering RNA. The present study suggests that ghrelin may serve as a novel target for cisplatin resistance and a potential indicator of cisplatin sensitivity in breast cancer treatment.

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