Effects of JinShuiXian in combination with radiotherapy on the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor and hypoxia inducible factor-1α in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells

Objective To observe the effects of JinShuiXian capsule combined with radiotherapy on the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. Methods A549 cells were cultured in vitro. Cells were divided into 4 groups using simple random method: control group, JinShuiXian group, radiation group and JinShuiXian combined with radiation group. The cell growth inhibition rate of each group at different time sets was monitored by methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT), the number of apoptotic cells in different groups was observed by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), and the expression levels of mRNA and protein of HIF-1α and bFGF were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The proliferation of A549 cells in different groups at different time points showed different degrees of inhibition. Especially at 48 h, the inhibitory rate of combination group was 56.3%, and the JinShuiXian group had the lowest rate (15.8%). As compared with control group, JinShuiXian group and radiation group, the inhibitory rate of cell proliferation in combined group at 48 h was significantly increased (P=0.023). Apoptosis experiments showed that the mean number of apoptotic cells in combined group at 48 h was 32.8, which was significantly increased as compared with other groups (P=0.038). The expression levels of bFGF [(157.408 0±2.830 3) pg/ml, P=0.045] and HIF-1α [(1.455 7±0.000 7) pg/ml, P=0.021] proteins showed a decline trend over time in each group, and those in the combined group were reduced most significantly as compared with other groups. As compared with the control group, bFGF (0.285 4±0.057 9, P=0.005) and HIF-1α mRNA (0.277 1±0.022 1, P=0.011) expression levels in the treated groups showed a downward trend, and at 48 h those in the combined group was the lowest. Conclusion JinShuiXian in combination with radiation could significantly inhibit tumor cell proliferation and expression of bFGF and HIF-1α in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. JinShuiXian may enhance the inhibitory effect of radiotherapy on lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells through inhibition of bFGF and HIF-1α expression. Key words: JinShuiXian; Radiotherapy; Lung adenocarcinoma; Basic fibroblast growth factor; Hypoxia inducible factor-1α