Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Propofol affects the biological behavior of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells via ERK1/2-MMP-2/9 signaling pathway

Ruchang Yin¹, Chunyan Zhang¹, Aizhi Gen¹, Yanxiao Li¹, Hailei Yang¹, Xin Tian¹, Yasong Chi²

¹Department of Gynaecology, The Second Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng; ²Liaocheng Second People's Hospital Huamei Branch Gynecology Xinhua Road and Huamei Road Intersection, Linqing City, Shandong Province, China.

For correspondence:- Yasong Chi Email: psi62p@163.com

Accepted: 31 January 2020 Published: 29 February 2020

Citation: Yin R, Zhang C, Gen A, Li Y, Yang H, Tian X, et al. Propofol affects the biological behavior of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells via ERK1/2-MMP-2/9 signaling pathway. Trop J Pharm Res 2020; 19(2):233-238 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v19i2.3

© 2020 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of propofol on the biological behavior of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells, and the mechanism of action involved.

Methods: SKOV3 cells cultured in vitro were randomly divided into control group, fat emulsion group, low-dose propofol group (LDPG, 25 μmol/L), medium-dose propofol group (MDPG) (50 μmol/L) and high-dose propofol group (HDPG) (100 μmol/L). Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry, while Transwell assay was used to measure the migration and invasion abilities of the cells. The protein levels of ERK1/2, MMP-2, MMP-9 were assayed with Western blotting. Moreover, the cells were transfected with siERK, and the regulatory effect of propofol on ERK1/2-MMP-2/9 signaling pathway was determined.

Results: Apoptosis in HDPG was significantly reduced, relative to MDPG, while migration and invasion were enhanced, relative to MDPG (p < 0.05). Moreover, MMP-2, ERK1/2, and MMP-9 proteins were significantly higher in MDPG and HDPG than in control, fat emulsion and LDPGs (p < 0.05), and were upregulated in HDPGs, relative to MDPG (p < 0.05). In contrast, propofol did not up-regulate these proteins in siRNA-treated cells.

Conclusion: Propofol enhances the migration, proliferation, and invasive ability SKOV3 cells, and up-regulates the expressions of MMP-2, ERK1/2, and MMP-9 in these cells, via a mechanism related to the activation of ERK1/2-MMP-2/9 signaling route. These properties provide novel leads for the development of new drugs for ovarian cancer.

Keywords: Propofol, ERK1/2-MMP-2/9 signal route, Ovarian cancer, Biological behavior