Aim To explore the effect of shikonin on stemness maintance of glioma stem cells ( GSCs ). Methods After the U87-MG cells were cultured and isolated, the sphere cells were identified by immuno-fluorescent staining. The alteration of stemness of GSCs by shikonin treatment(2 μmol·L - 1 ) for 12 h, 24 h and 48 h was valued by morphological detection using optical microscope and sub-sphere forming assay. Mo-reover, the related markers of stem cells, such as CD133, were detected in shikonin treated GSCs by western blot assay. Protein expression of PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt and p-Akt was detected by western blot af-ter shikonin treatment alone. Furthermore, by combi-nation with insulin-like growth factor-1 ( IGF-1), we observed the alteration of stemness maintance of shiko-nin-treated GSCs. Results The presence of neural stem cell related markers CD133 and nestin proved the characteristics of GSCs. Shikonin treatment significant-ly inhibited the morphology of GSCs and the sub-sphere forming. Besides, the reduced expression of CD133 was detected in shikonin treated GSCs. Though, the expression of PI3K and Akt did not change compared with the control group, the expression of p-PI3K and p-Akt was reduced. Furthermore, the combination of IGF-1 markedly attenuated the inhibitory effect of shikonin on stemness maintance of GSCs. Conclusion The stemness maintance of GSCs can be significantly inhibited by shikonin treatment, in which PI3K/ Akt pathway is involved.%目的：研究紫草素对脑胶质瘤干细胞(GSCs)干性维持的影响及相关分子机制。方法应用免疫荧光方法对分离提取的细胞球进行干细胞表面标志性分子 CD133和 nes-tin 的检测；紫草素(2μmol·L -1)处理 GSCs 12、24和48 h后,光镜下观察紫草素对 GSCs 悬浮细胞球形态的影响；采用亚球形成实验评估紫草素对 GSCs 自我更新能力的影响；应用 Western blot 方法检测紫草素作用下 GSCs 干细胞标志分子 CD133的表达变化,同时检测紫草素作用下,GSCs 中PI3K、p-PI3K、Akt 和 p-Akt 的表达变化；联合应用胰岛素样生长因子-1(IGF-1)后检测紫草素作用下,GSCs 干性维持的改变。结果分离提取的细胞球表面 CD133和 nestin 呈阳性表达；紫草素能够明显抑制 GSCs 悬浮细胞球的形态和二代细胞球的形成,同时能够降低 CD133的表达；与对照组相比,紫草素作用下,GSCs 中 PI3K 和 Akt 的表达无变化,p-PI3K 和 p-Akt 的表达呈现药物时间依赖性明显下降；此外, IGF-1能够明显改善紫草素对 GSCs 干性维持的抑制作用。结论紫草素能够明显抑制 GSCs 的干性维持,其机制可能与 PI3K/ Akt 信号通路有关。
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