Holothurian Glycosaminoglycan (hGAG) Promoted Bim-Induced Apoptosis in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cell Line Through Inhibition of Akt-Mediated FOXO3a Translocation

Introduction: Holothurian glycosaminoglycan (hGAG) is an extract from the body wall of sea cucumber and previous studies have proved many unique bioactivities of it, such as anti-tumor, anti-coagulation and immune regulation. Previous studies of our research group have shown hGAG promoted cell apopt...

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Main Authors: Dai Hao-yu MM, Liu Ting-ting MM, Cao Yi-wei MM, Sui Ai-hua MM, Yang Xiao-hui MD, Lin Cun-zhi MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-06-01
Series:Integrative Cancer Therapies
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/15347354251341442
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author Dai Hao-yu MM
Liu Ting-ting MM
Cao Yi-wei MM
Sui Ai-hua MM
Yang Xiao-hui MD
Lin Cun-zhi MD
author_facet Dai Hao-yu MM
Liu Ting-ting MM
Cao Yi-wei MM
Sui Ai-hua MM
Yang Xiao-hui MD
Lin Cun-zhi MD
author_sort Dai Hao-yu MM
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Holothurian glycosaminoglycan (hGAG) is an extract from the body wall of sea cucumber and previous studies have proved many unique bioactivities of it, such as anti-tumor, anti-coagulation and immune regulation. Previous studies of our research group have shown hGAG promoted cell apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells by upregulating Bax and caspase-3 and downregulating Bcl-2, indicating mitochondrial apoptosis pathway participated in the process. In the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, Bim induces cell apoptosis by either direct activation of pro-apoptotic Bax/Bak or neutralization of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. The transcription of Bim was regulated by FOXO3a. Akt, one of the most important cellular signaling molecules, regulates apoptosis through its phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of Akt results in translocation of FOXO3a from nuclear to cytoplasm. This study aimed to explore the mechanism by which hGAG induced apoptosis in A549 cells, focusing on its regulation of the Akt/FOXO3a/Bim signaling pathway. Methods: A549 cells were divided into three groups: control group, hGAG group and hGAG+SC79 (an Akt activator) group. Cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. mRNA and protein expression levels were detected by Real-time Fluorescence Quantitative PCR and Western blotting assay, respectively. Protein localization was detected by immunofluorescence. Results: The results showed that hGAG induced apoptosis in A549 cells by downregulating p-Akt level, promoting FOXO3a expression, preventing FOXO3a nuclear export, and upregulating Bim expression, while SC79 reversed these effects, further demonstrating that hGAG regulated FOXO3a and Bim through inhibition of phosphorylation of Akt. Conclusion: In conclusion, our data demonstrated that hGAG promoted apoptosis in A549 cells via the Akt/FOXO3a/Bim-mediated intrinsic apoptosis pathway.
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
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spelling doaj-art-9d3462bb880642a28cedbddce318cefb2025-08-20T02:03:27ZengSAGE PublishingIntegrative Cancer Therapies1552-695X2025-06-012410.1177/15347354251341442Holothurian Glycosaminoglycan (hGAG) Promoted Bim-Induced Apoptosis in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cell Line Through Inhibition of Akt-Mediated FOXO3a TranslocationDai Hao-yu MM0Liu Ting-ting MM1Cao Yi-wei MM2Sui Ai-hua MM3Yang Xiao-hui MD4Lin Cun-zhi MD5The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, ChinaThe Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, ChinaThe Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, ChinaThe Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, ChinaThe Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, ChinaThe Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, ChinaIntroduction: Holothurian glycosaminoglycan (hGAG) is an extract from the body wall of sea cucumber and previous studies have proved many unique bioactivities of it, such as anti-tumor, anti-coagulation and immune regulation. Previous studies of our research group have shown hGAG promoted cell apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells by upregulating Bax and caspase-3 and downregulating Bcl-2, indicating mitochondrial apoptosis pathway participated in the process. In the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, Bim induces cell apoptosis by either direct activation of pro-apoptotic Bax/Bak or neutralization of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. The transcription of Bim was regulated by FOXO3a. Akt, one of the most important cellular signaling molecules, regulates apoptosis through its phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of Akt results in translocation of FOXO3a from nuclear to cytoplasm. This study aimed to explore the mechanism by which hGAG induced apoptosis in A549 cells, focusing on its regulation of the Akt/FOXO3a/Bim signaling pathway. Methods: A549 cells were divided into three groups: control group, hGAG group and hGAG+SC79 (an Akt activator) group. Cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. mRNA and protein expression levels were detected by Real-time Fluorescence Quantitative PCR and Western blotting assay, respectively. Protein localization was detected by immunofluorescence. Results: The results showed that hGAG induced apoptosis in A549 cells by downregulating p-Akt level, promoting FOXO3a expression, preventing FOXO3a nuclear export, and upregulating Bim expression, while SC79 reversed these effects, further demonstrating that hGAG regulated FOXO3a and Bim through inhibition of phosphorylation of Akt. Conclusion: In conclusion, our data demonstrated that hGAG promoted apoptosis in A549 cells via the Akt/FOXO3a/Bim-mediated intrinsic apoptosis pathway.https://doi.org/10.1177/15347354251341442
spellingShingle Dai Hao-yu MM
Liu Ting-ting MM
Cao Yi-wei MM
Sui Ai-hua MM
Yang Xiao-hui MD
Lin Cun-zhi MD
Holothurian Glycosaminoglycan (hGAG) Promoted Bim-Induced Apoptosis in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cell Line Through Inhibition of Akt-Mediated FOXO3a Translocation
Integrative Cancer Therapies
title Holothurian Glycosaminoglycan (hGAG) Promoted Bim-Induced Apoptosis in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cell Line Through Inhibition of Akt-Mediated FOXO3a Translocation
title_full Holothurian Glycosaminoglycan (hGAG) Promoted Bim-Induced Apoptosis in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cell Line Through Inhibition of Akt-Mediated FOXO3a Translocation
title_fullStr Holothurian Glycosaminoglycan (hGAG) Promoted Bim-Induced Apoptosis in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cell Line Through Inhibition of Akt-Mediated FOXO3a Translocation
title_full_unstemmed Holothurian Glycosaminoglycan (hGAG) Promoted Bim-Induced Apoptosis in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cell Line Through Inhibition of Akt-Mediated FOXO3a Translocation
title_short Holothurian Glycosaminoglycan (hGAG) Promoted Bim-Induced Apoptosis in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cell Line Through Inhibition of Akt-Mediated FOXO3a Translocation
title_sort holothurian glycosaminoglycan hgag promoted bim induced apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma a549 cell line through inhibition of akt mediated foxo3a translocation
url https://doi.org/10.1177/15347354251341442
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