Berberine targets KIF20A and CCNE2 to inhibit the progression of nonsmall cell lung cancer via the PI3K/AKT pathway

Background: Nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the main type of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 85%. Berberine (BBR), a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine, has been reported to exhibit a potential antitumor effect in various cancers. In this research, we explored the function of BBR and its underlying mechanisms in the development of NSCLC.Methods: Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-20-deoxyuridine (EdU), colony formation assays, flow cytometry, and transwell invasion assay were employed to determine cell growth, the apoptotic rate, cell invasion of NSCLC cells, respectively. Western blot was applied for detecting the protein expression of c-Myc, matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP9), kinesin family member 20A (KIF20A), cyclin E2 (CCNE2), and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway-related proteins. Glycolysis was evaluated by detecting glucose consumption, lactate production, and adenosine triphosphate/adenosine diphosphate (ATP/ADP) ratio with the matched kits. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was conducted to analyze the level of KIF20A and CCNE2. Tumor model was established to evaluate the function of BBR on tumor growth in NSCLC in vivo. In addition, immunohistochemistry assay was employed to detect the level of KIF20A, CCNE2, c-Myc, and MMP9 in mice tissues.Results: BBR exhibited suppressive effects on the progression of NSCLC, as evidenced by inhibiting cell growth, invasion, glycolysis, and facilitating cell apoptosis in H1299 and A549 cells. KIF20A and CCNE2 were upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cells. Moreover, BBR treatment significantly decreased the expression of KIF20A and CCNE2. KIF20A or CCNE2 downregulation could repress cell proliferation, invasion, glycolysis, and induce cell apoptosis in both H1299 and A549 cells. The inhibition effects of BBR treatment on cell proliferation, invasion, glycolysis, and promotion effect on cell apoptosis were rescued by KIF20A or CCNE2 overexpression in NSCLC cells. The inactivation of PI3K/AKT pathway caused by BBR treatment in H1299 and A549 cells was restored by KIF20A or CCNE2 upregulation. In vivo experiments also demonstrated that BBR treatment could repress tumor growth by regulating KIF20A and CCNE2 and inactivating the PI3K/AKT pathway.Conclusion: BBR treatment showed the suppressive impact on the progression of NSCLC by targeting KIF20A and CCNE2, thereby inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway.