Modulatory Effects of Beclin 1 on Expression of Angiopoietin and Tie-2 Receptor in Human Cervical Cancer Cells

Aim: To investigate the effect of Beclin 1, an autophagy gene, on the expression of angiopoietin (Ang) protein and the Tie-2 receptor in CaSki human cervical cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Beclin 1 overexpression (pcDNA3.1-Beclin1) and knockdown (pSUPER-Beclin1) plasmids were independently transfected into CaSki cells, and stably transfected cells were selected. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot analyses were performed to detect the mRNA and protein expression of Beclin 1, Ang-1, Ang-2, and Tie-2. MTT assays were employed to determine cell proliferation rates. Results: In the cells transfected with pcDNA3.1-Beclin1, the expression of Beclin 1, Ang-2, and Tie-2 was markedly increased, but expression of Ang-1 was dramatically reduced. MTT assays revealed that the proliferation of these cells was also significantly suppressed. In the CaSki cells transfected with pSUPER-Beclin1, the expression of Beclin 1, Ang-2, and Tie-2 was inhibited. Conclusion: Overexpression of Beclin 1 can inhibit the proliferation of CaSki cells, which may be attributed to an imbalance among the expression of Ang-1, Ang-2 and Tie-2.