Curcumin inhibits Ec109 cell growth via an AMPK-mediated metabolic switch

AimsGlycolytic enzymes are always greatly increased in cancer cells. Whether metabolic reprogramming is involved in curcumin-mediated inhibition of cancer cell growth is unknown.Main methodsIn this study, cell viability was assayed with MTS analysis; cell cycle was measured with flow cytometry analysis. RT-PCR and western blotting were used to analyse the mRNA and protein expression, respectively.Key findingsHere we demonstrated that curcumin inhibited cancer cell growth, especially for Ec109 cells. Curcumin induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. Curcumin caused a significant down-regulation of glycolytic enzymes expressions in a dose-dependent manner. Our results further indicated that the AMPK was required for curcumin-mediated down-regulation of glycolytic enzymes. AMPK-mediated down-regulation of glycolytic enzymes blocked Ec109 cell growth.SignificanceTaken together, our results revealed that the AMPK-mediated metabolic switch plays an important role in esophageal cancer cell growth.