Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of pseudolaric acid B (PAB) on apoptosis of prostate cancer cell line DU145 and the potential mechanism. Methods The cells were treated with 0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 μmol/L PAB for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively;the CCK8 method was used to detect cell proliferation,flow cytometry annexin V-FITC/PI double staining and TUNEL method was used to detect cell apoptosis after the treatment of PAB. Scratch test and transwell chamber were used to detect cell migration and invasion. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, PTEN, AKT and p-AKT in the cells. Results With the increase of PAB concentration and time of incubation, the cell viability of DU145 cells was significantly reduced (P＜0.01). Compared with the control group, the average cell apoptosis rate, Bax and PTEN protein expression in the PAB group were significantly increased, while the cell scratch healing rate, the number of transmembrane cells, Bcl-2 and p-AKT protein expression were significantly reduced(P＜0.01). GW9662 significantly reversed the pro-apoptotic effect of PAB on DU145. Conclusions PAB may inhibit the proliferation and invasion of prostate cancer DU145 cells and induce cell apoptosis through the PTEN/AKT signaling pathway.

Key words: prostate cancer, apoptosis, pseudolaric acid B