Qing Yan Li Ge Tang, a Chinese Herbal Formula, Induces Autophagic Cell Death through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells In Vitro

Figure 4

QYLGT induces activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, which is required for autophagic cell death in NPC cells. (a) HONE-1 cells were treated without (C = control) or with QYLGT (QY) and concurrently treated with solvent control DMSO, a p38 MAPK inhibitor SB202190 (SB), an ERK inhibitor PD184352 (PD), a JNK inhibitor SP600125 (SP), or a PI3K/Akt inhibitor LY294002 (LY), respectively. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay. (b) HONE-1 cells were treated without (C=control) or with QYLGT (QY) and concurrently treated with solvent control DMSO or LY294002 (LY). Protein expressions of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), total Akt (Akt), phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR), total mTOR (mTOR), Atg3, and β-actin were examined by an immunoblot assay (c) HONE-1 cells were treated without (C=control) or with QYLGT (QY) and concurrently treated with solvent control DMSO or wortmannin (Wort). Upper panel: cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Lower panel: protein expressions of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), total Akt (Akt), Atg3, and β-actin were examined by immunoblot assay. (d) HONE-1 cells were treated without (C=control) or with QYLGT (QY) and concurrently treated with solvent control DMSO or rapamycin (Ra). Upper panel: cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Lower panel: protein expressions of phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR), total mTOR (mTOR), Atg3, and β-actin were examined by immunoblot assay. (e) HONE-1 cells were treated without (C=control) or with QYLGT (QY) and concurrently treated with solvent control DMSO or Torin 1. Upper panel: cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Lower panel: protein expressions of phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR), total mTOR (mTOR), Atg3, and β-actin were examined by an immunoblot assay. The relative expression levels of individual proteins were quantified by normalization with their corresponding β-actin, and the expression level in the control group was set as 1.0. vs. the control + DMSO group. vs. the QYLGT + DMSO group.

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