Effect of icaritin on proliferation and apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cells SKOV3

Based on the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, this study aimed to observe the proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells at different concentrations of icaritin, in order to explore the possible molecular mechanisms. The research object was ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells. The cells were divided into the control group and icaritin groups(5, 10, 20 μmol·L~(-1)), and administrated with drugs for 48 hours. The cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of icaritin on the proliferation of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells. The proliferation ability of the SKOV3 cells was detected by EdU assay. Hoechst 33342 fluorescence staining was used to observe the apoptotic morphology of SKOV3 cells in each group. The distribution of cell cycle and the apoptosis rate of each group were detected by flow cytometry. Quantitative Real-time PCR was used to detect mRNA expressions of PTEN, PI3K, Akt in each group of cells. Protein expressions of PTEN, PI3K, Akt and p-Akt were measured by Western blot. The results showed that the cell inhibition rates of icaritin groups were significantly increased compared with the control group(Pl0.05). The rates of EdU-positive cells of icaritin groups were significantly decreased(Pl0.05). SKOV3 cells in icaritin groups showed morphological changes of apoptosis. Apoptosis rates of icaritin groups were significantly increased(Pl0.05). The proportions of cells in G_0/G_1 phase of icaritin groups were decreased(Pl0.05), while the proportions of S phase cells were increased(Pl0.05). The gene and protein expressions of PTEN in icaritin groups were elevated(Pl0.05). The gene expressions of PI3K and Akt in icaritin groups were down-regulated(Pl0.05). The protein expression of PI3K and p-Akt in icaritin groups were reduced(Pl0.05). These results indicated that icarin may inhibit the proliferation of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells in vitro, induce cell apoptosis and affect the cycle distribution of cells by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.