Background
2-dodecyl-6-methoxycyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione (DMDD) has been reported to have good antitumor effects. The
Conclusions
DMDD inhibits CCA cell viability and induces cell cycle arrest and autophagy by a mechanism that may be related to the downregulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.
Methods
QBC939 cells were cultured in vitro and changes in cell viability were detected by the Cell Counting Kit (CCK8) assay after treatment with different concentrations of DMDD for 24, 48, and 72 h. The cells were divided into control and DMDD-treated groups (treated concentrations were 10, 15, and 20 µM/L), and the cell cycle, apoptosis, and autophagic vesicles were assessed. The expression levels of PI3K, AKT, mTOR, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta (LC3-II)/I, Beclin-1, and P62 were detected by Western blot. A xenograft mouse model was constructed to detect the effect of DMDD on CCA.
Results
The experimental results showed that DMDD was able to inhibit proliferation, migration, and invasion and induce cell cycle arrest and autophagy of QBC939 cells. In addition, DMDD decreased the protein expression of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR and increased the expression of LC3-II/I, Beclin-1, and P62. In mice, DMDD was able to inhibit the growth of tumors. Conclusions: DMDD inhibits CCA cell viability and induces cell cycle arrest and autophagy by a mechanism that may be related to the downregulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.