Investigation for the proliferation mechanism of lung cancer stem cells

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Previously we identified the lung specific tissue stem cells named alveolar epithelial progenitor cells (AEPCs). The novel marine macrolide (-)-exiguolide significantly inhibit the proliferation of AEPCs. We hypothesized that (-)-exiguolide inhibit proliferation of lung cancer stem cells. Global gene expression analysis suggested the involvement of protein kinase C (PKC), extracellular regulated kinase and phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt signalling pathway in the tumour inhibition of (-)-exiguolide. Western blotting analysis confirmed the potential activity of (-)-exiguolide; p21 up-regulation through PKCα activation, MEK inhibition and PI3K/Akt/GSK3β pathway modulation resulting in apoptosis.