Geraniin inhibits cell growth and promoted autophagy-mediated cell death in the nasopharyngeal cancer C666-1 cells

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a rare malignant tumor developing from epithelial linings of nasopharynx, and 10–50 out of 100,000 NPC cases were recorded globally particularly in the Asian countries. METHODOLOGY: The cytotoxicity of geraniin against the NPC C666-1 cells were analyzed using MTT assay. The influences of geraniin on the C666-1 cell viability with the presence of ROS and apoptosis inhibitors were also studied. The expressions of PI3K, Akt, mTOR, and autophagic markers LC3, ATG7, P62/SQSTM1 expressions in the C666-1 cells were studied by western blotting analysis. The ROS production was assayed using DCFH-DA staining. The immunofluorescence assay was performed to detect the NF-κB and β-catenin expressions in the C666-1 cells. RESULTS: The cell viability of C666-1 cells were appreciably prevented by the geraniin. The geraniin treatment also inhibited the C666-1 cell growth with the presence of apoptotic inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. The geraniin-treatment effectively improved the ROS production and inhibited the NF-κB and β-catenin expressions in the C666-1 cells. Geraniin appreciably modulated the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling axis and improved the autophagy-mediated cell death via improving the autophagic markers LC3 and ATG7 expressions in the C666-1 cells. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our results proved that geraniin inhibits C666-1 cell growth and initiated autophagy-mediated cell death via modulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR cascade and improving LC3 and ATG7 expressions in the C666-1. Geraniin and it could be a hopeful and efficient candidate to treat the human NPC in the future.