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Betulinic acid may modulate autophagy in renal cell carcinoma cells

Merve Nur Atas, Baris Ertugrul, Elif Sinem Iplik

    Bratislavske Lekarske Listy
    |January 4, 2023
    PubMed
    Abstract

    Insights

    Betulinic acid impacts autophagy differently in kidney cancer cells. It increased Beclin-1 gene expression in one cell type while decreasing ATG-5 gene and protein levels in another, suggesting varied effects on autophagy based on cancer cell origin.

    Area of Science:

    • Oncology
    • Molecular Biology
    • Biochemistry

    Background:

    • Betulinic acid is a pentacyclic triterpenoid with known antitumor properties.
    • Its effects on autophagy in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are not well understood.
    • Autophagy plays a complex role in cancer progression and treatment response.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the effect of betulinic acid on autophagy in different renal cell carcinoma cell lines.
    • To determine if betulinic acid modulates key autophagy-related genes and proteins (Beclin-1 and ATG-5).

    Main Methods:

    • Treatment of RCC cell lines (ACHN and CAKI-2) with varying concentrations of betulinic acid.
    • Quantitative PCR (qPCR) to assess Beclin-1 and ATG-5 gene expression.
    • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to measure Beclin-1 and ATG-5 protein levels.

    Main Results:

    • Betulinic acid treatment increased Beclin-1 gene expression in ACHN cells.
    • Betulinic acid decreased ATG-5 gene expression in CAKI-2 cells.
    • Betulinic acid reduced Beclin-1 and ATG-5 protein levels in CAKI-2 cells.

    Conclusions:

    • The role of autophagy in renal cell carcinoma may be cell-type dependent.
    • Betulinic acid's impact on autophagy varies across different RCC cell origins.
    • Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms and therapeutic implications.

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