The Effects Of Hedgehog Pathway Blockade In Apoptosis And Proliferation Of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma CNE2 Cells

Objective:To explore the influence of hedgehog pathway blockade in apoptosis and proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)cells.Methods:The changes of morphology was observed in NPC CNE2 cells treatment with different concentrations of GLI1 and GLI2-specific inhibitor GANT61.The inhibition of cell proliferationwas detected by CCK-8 assays.Annexin V-FITC / PI double stainingmethod was used to determine the apoptosis of CNE2 cellsby flow cytometry.The expression of GLI1,GLI2 and GLI3 mRNA,and the protein in CNE2 cells wasassessed by RT-PCR and western blot,respectively.Results:The cell morphology changed obviously,and the viability of cells decreased afterexposure with GANT61 in vitro.It was found that GANT61 significantly inhibited the proliferation of CNE2 cells(P<0.05).Moreover,the apoptotic rate of CNE2 cells was significantly increased,and the expression of GLI1,GLI2 and GLI3 mRNA and protein was down-regulated in CNE2 cells cultured with GANT61(P<0.05).Conclusions:It is suggested thathedgehog signaling pathway may sustain nasopharyngeal caicinoma growth.GANT61 can suppresse significantlyproliferation and enhence apoptosis ofnasopharyngeal carcinoma cell,the mechanism which might be involved in repression of GLI family member expression.