Journal of Medicine and Life Science

Institute for Medical Science (제주대학교 의과학연구소)
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Role of autophagy in metformin-induced apoptosis of H4IIE hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Metformin에 의해 발생한 H4IIE 간암세포의 세포사멸 과정에서 자가포식의 역할

  • Baek, Keunho (Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Jeju National University) ;
  • Park, Deokbae (Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Jeju National University)
  • 백근호 (제주대학교 의학전문대학원 의학과) ;
  • 박덕배 (제주대학교 의학전문대학원 의학과)
  • Received : 2020.03.13
  • Accepted : 2020.05.09
  • Published : 2020.08.31
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Abstract

Metformin, a predominantly prescribed anti-diabetic drug for decades, has gained new insights for its anti-tumor activity in a variety of cancer cells. Our previous studies also showed the obvious pro-apoptotic activity of metformin and the underlying action mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Together with apoptosis, autophagy is a crucial intracellular process to determine the survival or death of cells under some stressful environments. The present study aimed to determine the role of autophagy in metformin-induced death of H4IIE hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Metformin blocked the formation of autophagosome and the expression of LC3A, generally described as a biomarker of autophagy. Inhibition of AMPK reversed the metformin-induced blockade of autophagy. Antioxidant (NAC) suppressed the metformin-induced cell death but not affected LC3A. The inhibition of protein kinase C totally restored the metformin-suppressed expression of LC3A. In summary, our present study suggests that autophagy is an anti-apoptotic player in metformin-induced apoptosis in H4IIE cells.

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References

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