Reactive oxygen species and PI3K/Akt signaling in cancer

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen and associates with multiple cellular functions such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In the present study, we showed that Insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) modulates SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cell by regulation of generation of ROS. Akt mediates cellular signaling pathways in association with mammalian target of rapamycin complex (mTOR) and Rac small G protein. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)-induced generation of ROS was completely abolished by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) (LY294002, 10?µM) or Akt inhibitors (SH-5, 50?µM), whereas inhibition of extracellular-regulated kinase by an ERK inhibitor (PD98059, 10?µM) or inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) by an mTORC1 inhibitor (Rapamycin, 100?nM) did not affect IGF-1-induced generation of ROS. Inactivation of mTORC2 by silencing Rapamycin-insensitive companion of mTOR (Rictor), abolished IGF-1-induced SKOV-3 cell migration as well as activation of Akt. However, inactivation of mTORC1 by silencing of Raptor had no effect. Silencing of Akt1 but not Akt2 attenuated IGF-1-induced generation of ROS. Expression of PIP3-dependent Rac exchanger1 (P-Rex1), a Rac guanosine exchange factor and a component of the mTOR complex. Silencing of P-Rex1 abolished IGF-1-induced generation of ROS. Finally, inhibition of NADPH oxidase system completely blunted IGF-1-induced generation of ROS, whereas inhibition of xanthine oxiase,cyclooxygenase, and mitochondrial respiratory chain complex was not effective. Given these results, we suggest that IGF-1 induces ROS generation through the PI3K/Akt/ mTOR2/NADPH oxidase signaling axis.