Downregulation of glucose-regulated protein 78 enhances the cytotoxic effects of curcumin on human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

  • Authors:
    • Xiaoming Yu
    • Long Shi
    • Li Yan
    • Hui Wang
    • Yan Wen
    • Xiuping Zhang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 23, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2018.3837
  • Pages: 2943-2951
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Curcumin is a conventional Chinese medicine, which exerts a marked effect on various tumor types and suppresses tumor invasion. The present study analyzed the antineoplastic effects of curcumin on human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells and determined the effects of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress on curcumin‑induced cytotoxicity. The Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay examined the viability of SUNE1 and SUNE2 NPC cells. The Annexin V/propidium iodide staining technique was used to detect cell apoptosis and flow cytometry was used to examine cell cycle distribution. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to detect ER stress‑associated molecules. Furthermore, the toxic effects of curcumin treatment alongside glucose‑regulated protein 78 (GRP78) knockdown using small interfering (si)RNA, and treatment with the pan‑caspase inhibitor Z‑VAD‑FMK and the protein kinase B (AKT) inhibitor MK‑2206 were detected. The results demonstrated that curcumin markedly reduced cell viability, blocked cell cycle progression and induced apoptosis of human NPC cells. In addition, curcumin activated ER stress‑associated proteins to participate in the apoptosis of human NPC cells. siRNA‑induced knockdown of GRP78 may be able to strengthen the toxic effects of curcumin through mediating the AKT signaling pathway. These findings indicated that downregulation of GRP78 promoted the therapeutic effects of curcumin on NPC cells. The present study identified a potential, novel therapeutic method for the treatment of NPC.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

November-2018
Volume 42 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Yu X, Shi L, Yan L, Wang H, Wen Y and Zhang X: Downregulation of glucose-regulated protein 78 enhances the cytotoxic effects of curcumin on human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Int J Mol Med 42: 2943-2951, 2018.
APA
Yu, X., Shi, L., Yan, L., Wang, H., Wen, Y., & Zhang, X. (2018). Downregulation of glucose-regulated protein 78 enhances the cytotoxic effects of curcumin on human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 42, 2943-2951. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2018.3837
MLA
Yu, X., Shi, L., Yan, L., Wang, H., Wen, Y., Zhang, X."Downregulation of glucose-regulated protein 78 enhances the cytotoxic effects of curcumin on human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 42.5 (2018): 2943-2951.
Chicago
Yu, X., Shi, L., Yan, L., Wang, H., Wen, Y., Zhang, X."Downregulation of glucose-regulated protein 78 enhances the cytotoxic effects of curcumin on human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 42, no. 5 (2018): 2943-2951. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2018.3837