Teglicar Induces Apoptosis in HeLa Cervical Cancer Cells via Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Pathway

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) is a potential therapeutic target for several cancers. The inhibition of CPT1A has anticancer effects. Teglicar is a new reversible CPT1A inhibitor. The aim of this research was to expound the effect of teglicar in cervical cancer cells. Cell proliferation was conducted using the CCK8 assay. The apoptotic rate was examined by Annexin V-APC/PI staining and flow cytometry. The expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related proteins were determined by western blot assay. Teglicar was found to inhibit the proliferation of HeLa cells in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 value of 18.38 µM at 24 h. The apoptotic rate of HeLa cells was significantly increased following treatment with teglicar. Western blot analysis indicated that the treatment of teglicar enhanced ER stress and apoptosis in HeLa cells. However, inhibition of proliferation and enhancement of apoptosis in teglicar-treated HeLa cells was reversed by 4-PBA. These results revealed that teglicar promoted apoptosis of HeLa cells via ER stress.