Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effect of berberine hydrochloride(BH)on inhibiting the proliferation of oral squamous cell carcinoma by regulating autophagy. Methods After different concentrations of BH (60, 90, 120, 240 μmol/L)acted on oral squamous cell carcinoma Cal-27 for 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, CCK-8 experiments detected the effect on Cal-27 cell viability. Colony formation detected the effect on the proliferation capacity of Cal-27 cell. Western Blot detected the effect of berberine hydrochloride on the expression of proliferation and autophagy protein of Cal-27 cell. The groups were set up: Control group (0), BH group (90 μmol/L BH), rapamycin (RAPA) group (50 nmol/L RAPA), and BH + RAPA cotreatment group (90 μmol/L BH+50 nmol/L RAPA). CCK8 experiments, colony formation experiments and Western Blot experiments were carried out in this group to detect the relationship between berberine hydrochloride inhibition of autophagy and inhibition of Cal-27 cell proliferation. Results CCK-8 results showed that the survival rate of berberine hydrochloride gradually decreased after it was applied to Cal-27 cells. The results of colony formation indicated that Cal-27 cells were significantly weakened after berberine hydrochloride treatment. The results of Western Blot demonstrated that with the increase of BH concentration, the expression of PCNA protein, which was a proliferation index, gradually decreased, and the expression of autophagy family protein Beclin-1 and LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ also gradually decreased. Compared with the BH group, the cell activity and clonal formation ability of BH+RAPA group were enhanced, and the expression of PCNA protein, autophagy protein Beclin-1 and LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ was upregulated. Conclusion BH inhibits the autophagy response of oral squamous cell carcinoma Cal-27 cell and further inhibits its proliferation by inhibiting autophagy.

Key words: berberine hydrochloride, oral squamous cell carcinoma, autophagy, proliferation