ASTAXANTHIN INHIBITS CELL PROLIFERATION, MIGRATION, INVASION AND INDUCED APOPTOSIS VIA AMPK-mTOR SIGNALING PATHWAY IN HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA HEP 3B CELLS

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fatal malignancy with a poor prognosis. There is an urgent need to study the molecular mechanisms of HCC development and explore potential drugs to improve survival. This study aims to investigate the antitumor effects of astaxanthin on HCC proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis through regulation of adenosine-activated protein kinase (AMPK). CCK8, wound healing, transwell and flow cytometry assays were used to evaluate Hep 3B cell viability, migration, invasion and apoptosis after astaxanthin treatment. Protein expression was determined by Western blot. CCK8 assays showed that all concentrations (200 mu M, 400 mu M, 500 mu M) of astaxanthin used in this study significantly inhibited the proliferation of Hep 3B cells (P < 0.05). Wound healing, transwell and flow cytometry showed that astaxanthin inhibited Hep 3B cell migration and invasion and induced apoptosis. Western blot showed that astaxanthin increased the expression of p-AMPK (P <0.05) and inhibited its downstream p-mTOR protein expression (P < 0.05). The effects of astaxanthin on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis was attenuated after addition of the AMPK blocker Compound C. To conclude, astaxanthin inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC by regulating AMPK, and promotes tumor cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.