Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of atorvastatin （ATO） on the proliferation， apoptosis， and migration of the human tongue squamous cell carcinoma CAL-27 cells in vitro， and to clarify their mechanisms. Methods The CAL-27 cells were divided into control group and 1，5，10，20，and 40 μmol?L^－1 ATO groups.After treated with ATO，CCK-8 assay was used to detect the survival rates of the CAL-27 cells in various groups， clone formation assay was used to detect the clone formation rates of the CAL-27 cells in various groups； Hoechst33342 fluorescence staining and flow cytometry were used to detect the apoptotic rates of the CAL-27 cells in various groups； cell scratch test was used to detect the migration rates the CAL-27 cells in various groups； Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of P53， P21， B-cell lymphoma-2（Bcl-2），Bcl-2 associated X protein（Bax）， cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase（Caspase）-3， Caspase-9， and cyclin-dependent kinase 6（CDK6） proteins in the CAL-27 cells in various groups. Results Compared with control group， the survival rates of the cells in different concentrations of ATO groups were decreased after cutured for 24 and 48 h（P<0.05）.After cultured for 48 h， compared with control group， the clone formation rates （P<0.01） and migration rates （P<0.05） of the cells in different concentrations of ATO groups were decreased，and the cells in 40 μmol?L^－1 ATO group basically lost the abilities of cloning and migration； the apoptotic rates in different concentrations of ATO groups were increased （P<0.05），and almost all the cells in 40 μmol?L^－1ATO group were apoptotic. After cultured for 48 h， compared with control group， the cells in different concentrations of ATO groups showed nuclear staining or fragmentation，and all the cells in 20 and 40 μmol?L^－1 ATO groups were fragmented. Compared with control group， after cultured for 48 h，the expression levels of P53， P21， Bax， Caspase-3， and Caspase-9 proteins in the cells in different concentrations of ATO groups were increased （P<0.01）， and the expression levels of CDK6 and Bcl-2 proteins were decreased（P<0.05 or P<0.01）. Conclusion ATO inhibits the proliferation and migration of the CAL-27 cells and promotes the apoptosis of the CAL-27 cells through P53 /P21 / CDK6 pathway.

Key words: Tongue squamous cell carcinoma, Atorvastatin, Cell proliferation, Apoptosis, Cell migration