Sinomenine Inhibits the Invasion and Metastasis of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma AsPC-1 Cells by Inhibiting Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition Mediated by PI3K/AKT Pathway

OBJECTIVE To find out the effect of sinomenine on epithelial mesenchymal transition(EMT), invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer AsPC-1 cells and related mechanisms. METHODS After treating AsPC-1 cells with different concentrations of sinomenine, the wound healing assays was used to study the healing ability of cells, the Transwell test was used to detect the number of migration and invasion of cells, the Western blotting was used to measure the expressions level of protein of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT and p-AKT. RESULTS Sinomenine reduced the relative mobility, and the number of migration and invasion of AsPC-1 cells. Sinomenine up regulated the protein expression of E-cadherin and down regulated the protein expressions of N-cadherin and Vimentin of AsPC-1 cells. Sinomenine decreased the ratio of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT. Insulin-like growth factor-1 reversed the up-regulation effect of sinomenine on E-cadherin protein expression, and down-regulation effect of sinomenine on N-cadherin and Vimentin protein expression. TGF-β reversed the decreasing effects of sinomenine on the relative mobility of AsPC-1 cells, and the number of migration and invasion of AsPC-1 cells. CONCLUSION Sinomenine inhibits invasion and metastasis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma AsPC-1 cells by inhibiting EMT mediated by PI3K/AKT pathway.