TY  - EJOU
AU  - Yang, Peizhen 
AU  - Sun, Dezhong 
AU  - Jiang, Fei 

TI  - Ailanthone Promotes Human Vestibular Schwannoma Cell Apoptosis and  Autophagy by Downregulation of miR-21
T2  - Oncology Research

PY  - 2018
VL  - 26
IS  - 6
SN  - 1555-3906

AB  - Ailanthone (AIL) is a quassinoid isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb <i>Ailanthus altissima</i>. 
The antitumor activities of AIL have been reported in several cancers. The purpose of the present study was 
to explore the effect of AIL on vestibular schwannomas (VSs). Various concentrations of AIL (0–1 µM) were 
used to treat human primary VS cells, and then cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy were 
assessed. Expression of miR-21 in VS cells was altered by miRNA transfection. The functional actions of AIL 
on miR-21 dysregulated cells were also assessed. AIL significantly reduced the viability of VS cells, and the 
IC<sub>50</sub> value was 0.48±0.023 µM. In response to 0.6 µM AIL, BrdU<sup>+</sup>
 cell rate and cyclin D1 expression were 
reduced, apoptotic cell rate was increased, caspase 3 and caspase 9 were cleaved, Beclin-1 and LC3-II were 
accumulated, and p62 was downregulated. miR-21 was lowly expressed in AIL-treated cells, and AIL-induced 
apoptosis and autophagy were attenuated by miR-21 overexpression. In addition, AIL downregulated Ras and 
Raf and deactivated MEK, ERK, mTOR, and p70S6K, while the downregulation and deactivation induced by 
AIL were reversed by miR-21 overexpression. To conclude, AIL inhibited VS cell proliferation and induced 
apoptosis and autophagy. The antitumor activities of AIL in VS cells were realized possibly via downregulation 
of miR-21 and blocking the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK and mTOR pathways.
KW  - Vestibular schwannoma (VS); Ailanthone (AIL); miR-21; Apoptosis; Autophagy

DO  - 10.3727/096504018X15149775533331