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Methyl-indole inhibits pancreatic cancer cell viability by down-regulating ZFX expression

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Abstract

This study explored the effect of methyl-indole on pancreatic cancer cell viability and investigated the mechanism involved. The viability of pancreatic cells showed a significant suppression on treatment with methyl-indole in dose-based manner. Treatment with 5 µM methyl-indole suppressed Capan-1 cell viability to 23%. The viability of Aspc-1 cells was reduced to 20% and those of MIApaCa-2 cells to 18% by 5 µM methyl-indole. The apoptotic proportion of Capan-1 cells was 67%, while as those of Aspc-1 and MIApaCa-2 cells increased to 72 and 77%, respectively, on treatment with 5 µM methyl-indole. The level of P13K, p-Tyr, p-Crkl and p-Akt was inhibited in the cells by methyl-indole. Moreover, methyl-indole also suppressed zinc-finger protein, X-linked mRNA and protein expression in tested cells. In summary, methyl-indole exhibits anti-proliferative effect on pancreatic cancer cells and induces apoptosis. It targeted ZFX expression and down-regulated P13K/AKT pathway in pancreatic cancer cells. Therefore, methyl-indole acts as therapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer and may be studied further.

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  1. Department of General Surgery, Shanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, No. 29 Shuangta East Street, Yingze District, Taiyuan, 030012, Shanxi, China

    Xueliang Qin & Xiaopeng Cui

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  1. Xueliang Qin
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  2. Xiaopeng Cui
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Correspondence to Xueliang Qin.

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Qin, X., Cui, X. Methyl-indole inhibits pancreatic cancer cell viability by down-regulating ZFX expression. 3 Biotech 10, 187 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-020-02179-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-020-02179-4

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