The mRNA expression levels of AMPK and SIRT1 were decreased in AR42J cells after induced with caerulein
As shown in Fig. 1, qRT-PCR results revealed that after compound C pretreated, the expression levels of AMPK, SIRT1 were attenuated compared with control group. After metformin pretreated, the mRNA expression levels of AMPK and SIRT1 were incresed compared with control group. After stimulated with caerulein, the mRNA levels of AMPK and SIRT1 were significantly decreased (p < 0.05, Fig. 1A and 1B).
The protein expression levels of AMPK, SIRT1, ace-p53, ace-NF-κB were decreased in AR42J cells after induced with caerulein
The western blot results indicated that after compound C pretreated, the protein levels of p-AMPKα/AMPK, SIRT1 were reduced, while ace-p53, ace-NF-κB were increased compared with control group. After metformin pretreated, the protein levels of p-AMPKα/AMPK and SIRT1 were enhanced, while ace-p53, ace-NF-κB were decreased compared with control group. After stimulated with caerulein, the protein levels of AMPK and SIRT1 were significantly attenuated, while ace-p53, ace-NF-κB were increased (p < 0.05, Fig. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E).
The apoptosis of AR42J cells was suppressed by activation of AMPK and raised by inbition of AMPK
Flow cytometry assay was conducted to detect the apoptosis of AR42J cells. Representative cell apoptosis images were shown as Fig. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E and 3F. Apoptotic rate of control group was 15.80 ± 0.84% (Fig. 3A, 3G), the apoptosis rate of the compound C group was 32.01 ± 17.73% (Fig. 3B, 3G), and the apoptosis rate of the metformin group was 12.08 ± 1.99% (Fig. 3C, 3G). After caerulein-stimulated 24 hours, the apoptotic rate of the control group was 22.14 ± 1.38% (Fig. 3D, 3G), the apoptosis rate of the compound C group was 42.20 ± 17.73% (Fig. 3E, 3G), and the apoptotic rate of the metformin group was 20.64 ± 1.99% (Fig. 3F, 3G). After compound C pretreated, apoptosis rate of AR42J was enhanced, while pretreated with metformin, apoptosis rate of AR42J was reduced compared with control group. After stimulated with caerulein, apoptosis rate of AR42J was significantly enhanced in each group (p < 0.05, Fig. 3G).
The proliferation of AR42J cells was inhibited by activation of AMPK and enhanced by inbition of AMPK
As shown in Fig. 4, the value of OD570nm was rasied after compound C pretreated, while pretreated with metformin, the value of OD570nm was reduced compared with the control group. After caerulein-stimulated 24 h, the value of OD570nm was significantly enhanced in each group (p < 0.05, Fig. 4). These results suggested that inbition of AMPK increased the proliferation of AR42J cells, while activation of AMPK decreased the proliferation of AR42J cells.
The migration of AR42J cells was repressed by activation of AMPK and elevated by inbition of AMPK
As shown in Fig. 5, transwell assay was performed to analyze the migration of AR42J cells. Representative cell migration images were shown as Fig. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E and 5F. After compound C pretreated, migration rate of AR42J was rasied, while pretreated with metformin, migration rate of AR42J was decreased compared with control group. After stimulated with caerulein, migration rate of AR42J was significantly elevated in each group (p < 0.05, Fig. 5G).