Effect of Notch1 signaling on cellular proliferation and apoptosis in human laryngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The occurrence and development of malignancies include excessive proliferation and apoptosis resistance in tumor cells. This study aimed to identify the effects of Notch1 signaling on proliferation and apoptosis of laryngeal cancer cells in a hypoxic microenvironment. METHODS: Notch1 and Ki-67 expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The apoptotic index (AI) of LSCC was evaluated by the TUNEL method. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to inhibit Notch1 expression in laryngeal cancer cells. Real-time PCR was used to measure Notch1, Hes1, and Hey1 mRNA expression, and Western blotting was used to measure Notch1 and Notch1 intracellular domain (N1ICD) protein expression. Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide staining and Cell Counting Kit-8 assays were used to measure cell apoptosis and proliferation, respectively. RESULTS: Notch1 expression was significantly related to the proliferation index (PI) and AI in LSCC tissues. Hypoxia could induce proliferation and inhibit apoptosis in cancer cells. Notch1 expression and Notch1 signaling activity could be upregulated by hypoxia. Suppressing Notch1 signaling activity in hypoxic cells could decrease proliferation and increase apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study has demonstrated that hypoxia may promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of laryngeal cancer cells. Notch1 signaling may play a pivotal role in regulating the proliferation and apoptosis resistance of laryngeal cancer cells under hypoxic conditions.