In vitro analysis on inhibitory effect of sodium arsenite combined with astragaloside IV on HepG2 liver cancer cells

Abstract From the in vitro level, this paper explores the synergistic inhibitory effects and mechanisms of sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) and astragaloside IV(AS-IV) on HepG2 cells. By screening the optimal concentration of each drug, the authors tested the combined and separate effects of the two drugs on HepG2 cell proliferation, migration and invasion, cell cycle and apoptosis, as well as key genes and proteins of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway (PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT, p-AKT, mTOR, and p-mTOR). The CCK-8 test and Transwell tests show that: the separate and joint uses of NaAsO2 and AS-IV reduced the viability and migration of cells to different degrees (p all   NaAsO2 group > AS-IV group; GNGT1 siRNA group had an opposite trend with each treatment group. From in vitro level, the above results confirm that NaAsO2 and AS-IV can inhibit HepG2, and the two drugs has a synergistic effect. In addition, the two drugs could inhibit HepG2 cells through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway; GNGT1 participates in the regulation of that signaling pathway.