E Platinum, a newly synthesized platinum compound, induces autophagy via inhibiting phosphorylation of mTOR in gastric carcinoma BGC-823 cells

A tightly regulated catabolic process named autophagy involves the degradation of intracellular components via lysosomes. Here we investigate the antitumor effect of E Platinum, a newly synthesized derivative of oxaliplatin, in vivo and in vitro. E Platinum exhibits growth inhibition of various tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner, but the mechanism underlying it is unclear. Based on theory introducing autophagy, we preliminarily investigate whether autophagy could contribute to the antitumor activity of E Platinum. Our results showed that autophagy induced by 12.5 μM E Platinum in gastric carcinoma BGC-823 cells was significantly characterized by the FITC-fluorescent microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 (MAP-LC3), lysosomal-rich/acidic compartments visualized with Lysotracker red (LTR-red) and an accumulation of numerous large autophagic vesicles within the cytoplasm, but not in the control cells. Meanwhile treatment of cells with 12.5 μM E Platinum resulted in conversion of water soluble LC3 (LC3-I) to lipidated and autophagosome-associated form (LC3-II) as well as increasing expression of autophagy protein Beclin 1. Activation of predominant lysosomal aspartic protease, LAMP-1 and cathepsin D, was demonstrated. Moreover, RNA interference targeting Beclin 1, inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and chloroquine significantly suppressed the above process as well as the BGC-823 cells growth inhibition triggered by 12.5 μM E Platinum. Studies of mechanism revealed that E Platinum suppressed activation of mTOR and p70S6K by decreasing phosphorylation of Akt, ERK1/2, JNK and p38 involved in mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. We supported new evidences for E Platinum as a promising antitumor agent, involving with autophagy induction.

► We confirmed that E Platinum exhibit antitumor effect.
► We describe that E Platinum induces autophagy involving degradation via the lysosomes.
► E Platinum induces autophagy through inhibition of mTOR activation.
► Our data demonstrated the phosphorylation levels of upstream kinases of mTOR.
► We provide a new rationale for understanding the anti-cancer activity of E Platinum.