Betulinic acid may modulate autophagy in renal cell carcinoma cells

OBJECTIVES: Betulinic acid is pentacyclic triterpenoid known to exert antitumor effects by modulating many cellular pathways in various human malignancies. However, its modulatory role in autophagy in renal cell carcinoma remains unclear. Here, we observed how betulinic acid affects autophagy in renal cell carcinoma cells. METHODS: After treating cells with betulinic acid, we determined the gene expression and protein levels of Beclin-1 and ATG-5 by qPCR and ELISA assay to observe its effects on autophagy. RESULTS: The qPCR results demonstrated that Beclin-1 expression level was low in untreated metastatic renal adenocarcinoma ACHN cells and increased in response to 25 mu M and 50 mu M betulinic acid treatment. ATG-5 expression level was decreased in primary clear cell renal cell carcinoma CAKI-2 cells treated with 50 mu M betulinic acid. In the ELISA assay results, we observed that betulinic acid caused a decrease in Beclin-1 protein level at 25 mu M concentration and in ATG-5 protein level at 50 mu M concentration in CAKI-2 cells. CONCLUSION: In current study, it was concluded that the role of autophagy may differ in renal cell carcinoma cells depending on their origin and that the effects of betulinic acid on autophagy in these cells may vary accordingly (Fig. 4, Ref. 40). Text in PDF www.elis.sk

Automated summary

This study investigates the effects of betulinic acid on autophagy in renal cell carcinoma cells. The results suggest that betulinic acid can modulate autophagy in these cells. The effects of autophagy may vary depending on the origin of the cells and the concentration of betulinic acid used.