Serabelisib regulates GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis, apoptosis and migration of hepatoma cells via the PI3K/Akt/E-cadherin signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND

Liver cancer is a malignant tumor commonly seen in infants and young children. Serabelisib is a novel and effective phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3Kα) inhibitor, currently in trials for solid malignancy treatment, such as bladder cancer. However, it is unclear whether serabelisib affects liver cancer.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the effects of serabelisib on the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis of HepG2 and HuH-6 cells, and elucidate the relevant molecular mechanisms.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The HepG2 cells were treated with 2 μM, 4 μM or 8 μM serabelisib, while the 0-μM group was used as a control. A plate clone formation assay was utilized to measure colony formation ability in each group, a 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay examined cell proliferation, a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay assessed cell viability, flow cytometry measured the cell cycle and apoptosis, JC-1 staining determined mitochondrial membrane potential, and transmission electron microscopy evaluated cell morphology. In addition, gene and protein expression levels of apoptosis markers, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), Gasdermin D (GSDMD), and the PI3K/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway were measured.

RESULTS

After serabelisib intervention, HepG2 and HuH-6 cells formed fewer colonies, proliferated more slowly, and had reduced viability. The number of HepG2 and HuH-6 cells in the G2 and S phases decreased, apoptosis and the number of apoptotic bodies increased, and mitochondrial membrane potential decreased. Serabelisib treatment also reduced the migration and invasion capacity of the cells. Furthermore, genes and proteins of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway were downregulated, while those that promote apoptosis and pyroptosis or inhibit EMT were upregulated.

CONCLUSIONS

Serabelisib inhibited the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting EMT and promoting apoptosis and pyroptosis in HepG2 and HuH-6 cells.