[Hederagenin inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of cervical cancer CaSki cells by blocking STAT3 pathway].

Objective To investigate the effect of hederagenin on the activity and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells and its mechanism. Methods Cervical cancer CaSki cells were cultured and treated with 0, 10, 20, 40, 80 μg/mL hederagenin. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) was determined to be about 40 μg/mL. The cervical cancer cells were treated with 40 μg/mL hederagenin. The apoptosis of cervical cancer cells was measured by flow cytometry, and the levels of cleaved caspase-3 (c-caspase-3), c-caspase-9, and STAT3 and p-STAT3 proteins were determined by Western blot analysis. STAT3 signaling pathway inhibitor AG490 and hederagenin were used to treat cervical cancer cells, and then the activity and apoptotic level of cervical cancer cells were detected by the above methods. Results Compared with the control cells, the proliferation activity of the cervical cancer cells treated with 40 μg/mL hederagenin decreased, the apoptotic level increased, the levels of c-caspase-3 and c-caspase-9 increased, and the level of p-STAT3 protein decreased. Compared with the cells treated with hederagenin, the activity of cervical cancer cells treated with AG490 and hederagenin decreased further, the apoptotic rate increased, and the protein levels of c-caspase-3 and c-caspase-9 increased. Conclusion Hederagenin inhibits the proliferation and promotes the apoptosis of cervical cancer cells, which is related to the inhibition of STAT3 signaling pathway.