Paclitaxel suppresses the viability of breast tumor MCF7 cells through the regulation of EF1α and FOXO3a by AMPK signaling

Author:                  

Publisher: Spandidos Publications

E-ISSN: 1791-2423|47|5|1874-1880

ISSN: 1019-6439

Source: International Journal of Oncology, Vol.47, Iss.5, 2015-01, pp. : 1874-1880

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

Previous Menu Next

Abstract

Paclitaxel (Taxol), a potent drug of natural origin isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew, is widely used for treating ovarian, lung and breast cancers. Currently, there is little information regarding the specific mechanism underlying the anticancer activity of paclitaxel. In the present study, we found that 5-amino-1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-imidazole4carboxamide (AICAR), a well-known activator of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), downregulated the protein and mRNA levels of elongation factor 1 α (EF1α) in breast cancer MCF7 cells. Paclitaxel increased the phosphorylation of AMPK and also downregulated the expression of EF1α in MCF7 cells. In addition, paclitaxel increased the expression, as well as the phosphorylation of forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a). Phosphorylation of FOXO3a was suppressed in the presence of compound C, a specific AMPK inhibitor, suggesting the involvement of AMPK in paclitaxel-induced FOXO3a phosphorylation. The induction and phosphorylation of FOXO3a by paclitaxel were not observed in EF1α and AMPK knockdown cells. Co-treatment with AICAR resulted in increased susceptibility of cancer cells to paclitaxel-induced suppression of their viability and further enhanced paclitaxelinduced FOXO3a phosphorylation. These results suggest that the antitumor effects of paclitaxel in breast cancer are mediated by activation of the AMPK/EF1α/FOXO3a signaling pathway.

Related content