Induction of autophagy contributes to cisplatin resistance in human ovarian cancer cells

Lingjie Bao, Melba C. Jaramillo, Zhenbo Zhang, Yunxi Zheng, Ming Yao, Donna D. Zhang, Xiaofang Yi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

106 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cisplatin resistance is a major challenge in the clinical treatment of ovarian cancer, of which the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The aim of the present study was to explore the role of autophagy in cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer cells. A2780cp cisplatin.resistant ovarian carcinoma cells and the A2780 parental cell line, were used as a model throughout the present study. The cell viability was determined using a water soluble tetrazolium salt.8 assay, and western blot analysis was performed to determine the protein expression levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3 I and LC3 II), and Beclin 1. Beclin 1 small interfering (si)RNA and 3-methyladenine (3-MA) were used to determine whether inhibition of autophagy may re.sensitize cisplatin.resistant cells to cisplatin. The ultrastructural analysis of autophagosomes was performed using transmission electron microscopy, and apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. In both A2780cp and A2780 cells, cisplatin induced the formation of autophagosomes and upregulated the expression levels of autophagy protein markers, LC3 II and Beclin 1. However, the levels of autophagy were significantly higher in A2780cp cells, as compared with the A2780 cells. The combined treatment of cisplatin with 3-MA, the autophagy pharmacological inhibitor, increased the cell death rate, but had no effects on apoptosis, as compared with cisplatin treatment alone in A2780cp cells. However, inhibition of autophagy by siRNA knockdown of Beclin 1 expression enhanced cisplatin.induced cell death and apoptosis. The findings of the present study suggest that autophagy has a protective role in human ovarian cancer cells, and that targeting autophagy may promote chemotherapeutic sensitivity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)91-98
Number of pages8
JournalMolecular Medicine Reports
Volume11
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2015

Keywords

  • Autophagy
  • Cisplatin
  • Ovarian carcinoma
  • Resistance

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Induction of autophagy contributes to cisplatin resistance in human ovarian cancer cells'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this