Cobalt chloride-stimulated hypoxia promotes the proliferation of cholesteatoma keratinocytes via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Herein, we purposed to explore whether hypoxia triggers proliferation of cholesteatoma keratinocytes via the PI3K-Akt signaling cascade. Cells were inoculated with different concentration of CoCl2. The proliferation and cellular HIF-1 alpha, p-PDK1 and p-Akt expression levels of cholesteatoma keratinocytes were assessed in vitro. Hypoxia escalated cell proliferation via upregulating p-PDK1 and p-Akt expressions. Specific inhibitor of the PI3K-Akt signaling cascade, LY294002 markedly inhibited the expression of p-Akt and significantly reduces the hypoxia-induced proliferation of cholesteatoma keratinocytes. Our data provides research evidence confirming that hypoxia participates in the onset and progress of cholesteatoma.