SOX2 enhances cell survival and induces resistance to apoptosis under serum starvation conditions through the AKT/GSK‑3β signaling pathway in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

  • Authors:
    • Kei Terasaki
    • Yasuyuki Gen
    • Naoto Iwai
    • Tomohiro Soda
    • Tomoko Kitaichi
    • Osamu Dohi
    • Hiroyoshi Taketani
    • Yuya Seko
    • Atsushi Umemura
    • Taichiro Nishikawa
    • Kanji Yamaguchi
    • Michihisa Moriguchi
    • Hideyuki Konishi
    • Yuji Naito
    • Yoshito Itoh
    • Kohichiroh Yasui
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: February 9, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12530
  • Article Number: 269
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Abstract

The human SOX2 gene was recently identified as a novel major oncogene, recurrently amplified and overexpressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the role and molecular mechanism of SOX2 in the carcinogenesis of ESCC remain to be elucidated. The present study investigated the effect of SOX2 on ESCC cell survival and resistance to apoptosis under serum starvation conditions. An adenoviral vector‑mediated expression system and RNA interference were used to study the effect of SOX2. The present results revealed that SOX2 promoted ESCC cell survival and enhanced resistance to apoptosis under serum starvation conditions, but not in culture conditions with serum. Mechanistically, SOX2 increased the expression levels of phosphorylated AKT and glycogen synthase kinase‑3β (GSK‑3β), a downstream factor of AKT, under serum starvation conditions, leading to the promotion of ESCC cell survival. Additionally, SOX2 activated AKT through the PTEN/PI3K/phosphoinositide‑dependent protein kinase 1 and mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 signaling pathways. Therefore, SOX2 may facilitate the survival of ESCC cells under poor nutrient conditions by activating the AKT/GSK‑3β signaling pathway.
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April-2021
Volume 21 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Terasaki K, Gen Y, Iwai N, Soda T, Kitaichi T, Dohi O, Taketani H, Seko Y, Umemura A, Nishikawa T, Nishikawa T, et al: SOX2 enhances cell survival and induces resistance to apoptosis under serum starvation conditions through the AKT/GSK‑3β signaling pathway in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Oncol Lett 21: 269, 2021
APA
Terasaki, K., Gen, Y., Iwai, N., Soda, T., Kitaichi, T., Dohi, O. ... Yasui, K. (2021). SOX2 enhances cell survival and induces resistance to apoptosis under serum starvation conditions through the AKT/GSK‑3β signaling pathway in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Oncology Letters, 21, 269. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12530
MLA
Terasaki, K., Gen, Y., Iwai, N., Soda, T., Kitaichi, T., Dohi, O., Taketani, H., Seko, Y., Umemura, A., Nishikawa, T., Yamaguchi, K., Moriguchi, M., Konishi, H., Naito, Y., Itoh, Y., Yasui, K."SOX2 enhances cell survival and induces resistance to apoptosis under serum starvation conditions through the AKT/GSK‑3β signaling pathway in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma". Oncology Letters 21.4 (2021): 269.
Chicago
Terasaki, K., Gen, Y., Iwai, N., Soda, T., Kitaichi, T., Dohi, O., Taketani, H., Seko, Y., Umemura, A., Nishikawa, T., Yamaguchi, K., Moriguchi, M., Konishi, H., Naito, Y., Itoh, Y., Yasui, K."SOX2 enhances cell survival and induces resistance to apoptosis under serum starvation conditions through the AKT/GSK‑3β signaling pathway in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma". Oncology Letters 21, no. 4 (2021): 269. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12530