Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cell-derived conditioned media inhibits colon cancer cells via activating AMPK/mTOR-mediated autophagy.

Prior studies have shown that conditioned media derived from Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-CM) have anti-cancer properties. This research investigated the impact of WJ-CM on HT-29 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells by examining autophagy biomarkers and the AMPK/mTOR pathway. The HT-29 cells were subjected to WJ-CM and an AMPK activator (AICAR). Autophagy and levels of AMPK and mTOR proteins were investigated. WJ-CM increased the expression of phosphorylated AMPK while reducing the level of phosphorylated mTOR in HT-29 cells. WJ-CM treatment elevated the LC3B/LC3A ratio and ATG7, ATG5, and Beclin-1 expression. However, there was a parallel drop in p62 expression, which indicates autophagy induction. AICAR increased the influence of WJ-CM on viability, as well as the levels of biomarkers associated with autophagy, phosphorylated  AMPK, and phosphorylated  mTOR in the HT-29 cells. WJ-CM inhibits colorectal cancer cell growth via activating AMPK/mTOR-mediated autophagy.