AS-IV enhances the antitumor effects of propofol in NSCLC cells by inhibiting autophagy

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most lethal malignant tumors. It has been shown that the general anesthetic agents, propofol and astragaloside IV (AS-IV) both exert antitumor effects in NSCLC. However, the effects of the combination of propofol with AS-IV in NSCLC remain unclear. Cell counting kit-8, and EdU and Transwell assays were performed to evaluate NSCLC cell viability, proliferation, and migration. Cell apoptosis and autophagy were observed by flow cytometric analysis and TUNEL and LC3 staining, respectively. AS-IV notably enhanced the anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-migratory properties of propofol in NSCLC cells. Moreover, AS-IV remarkably facilitated the anti-autophagy effect of propofol in NSCLC cells by downregulating LC3, Beclin 1, and ATG5. Significantly, the pro-apoptotic ability of the AS-IV/propofol combination in NSCLC cells was further enhanced by the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA, suggesting that autophagy plays a tumor-promoting role in NSCLC cells. Collectively, AS-IV could facilitate the antitumor abilities of propofol in NSCLC cells by inhibiting autophagy. These findings may be beneficial for future studies on the use of AS-IV and propofol for the treatment of NSCLC.