Lupeol Inhibits Proliferation of Colorectal Cancer Cells by Suppressing RhoA-ROCK1 Signaling Pathway
JIANG Yiwen, HONG Dan, LOU Zhefeng, JIN Longjin*
This study aimed to explore the effect of Lupeol on the proliferation of CRC (colorectal cancer) cells and its underlying mechanism. HCT116 and SW620 cells were treated with Lupeol for 48 h. Then, MTT assay, CCK8 assay, plate clone assay, and flow cytometry were performed to detect the cell viability, proliferation ability, colony-forming ability, cell cycle, and cell apoptosis. The qPCR (quantitative real-time PCR) and Western blot experiments were used to evaluate the mRNA and protein expression levels. Immunofluorescence assay was used to explore the intracellular distribution of the β-Catenin protein. Further, RhoA was knockdown in CRC cells to explore the mechanism of Lupeol. Our results showed that Lupeol inhibited the proliferation of HCT116 and SW620 cells but did not induce cell apoptosis at selected doses. And the cell cycle was arrested in the G0/G1 phase after Lupeol treatment. In addition, Lupeol downregulated the expression of RhoA, ROCK1, β-Catenin and Cyclin D1 in both CRC cells. The distribution of β-Catenin protein in the cytoplasm and membrane was reduced after Lupeol
administration. Moreover, the proliferation ability was inhibited after RhoA knockdown. In conclusion, Lupeol could suppress the proliferation of HCT116 and SW620 cells by inhibiting the RhoA-ROCK1 signaling pathway and might provide an effective agent for CRC patients.
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