Matrine inhibits bladder cancer cell growth and invasion in vitro through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway: An experimental study

Objective: To study the inhibitory effect of matrine on bladder cancer cell growth and invasion in vitro through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Methods: Human T24 bladder cancer cell lines were cultured and treated with different doses of matrine (0.25 mg/mL, 0.5 mg/mL and 1.0 mg/mL) as well as 20 mu mol/L PI3K inhibitor LY294002 for 24h, and the cell proliferation activity, the number of invasive cells as well as the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT, proliferation genes and invasion genes were determined. Results: Different doses of matrine could decrease the cell viability value, the number of invasive cells as well as the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT. MMP2 and MMP9, and increase the expression of p16, p21 and p27 in dose-dependent manner: p16, p21 and p27 expression in cells of 20 mu mol/L LY29002 group were significantly higher than those of 0 mu mol/L LY29002 group while MMP2 and MMP9 expression were significantly lower than those of 0 mu mol/L LY29002 group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Matrine can inhibit bladder cancer cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and regulate the expression of cell cycle-inhibiting molecules and invasion-related genes through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.