Bergenin inhibits bladder cancer progression via activating the PPARγ/PTEN/Akt signal pathway

Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the urinary system with high mortality and morbidity. Evidence revealed that bergenin could affect the development of cancer. Here, we aimed to investigate the effect of bergenin on bladder cancer progression and its mechanism. The effect of bergenin on cell function was first detected, followed by assessing the changes of the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) in bergenin‐treated cells. The effect of bergenin on peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ)/phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/Akt signal pathway was measured by Western blotting, followed by the rescue experiments. The results showed that bergenin treatment significantly decreased cell viability and increased G1 phase arrest, accompanied by reduced expression of Ki67, cycling D1, and cycling B1 in bladder cancer cells. Apoptosis was induced by bergenin in bladder cancer cells, as evidenced by increased Bax and cleaved caspase 3 protein levels and decreased Bcl‐2 level in bergenin‐treated cells. Meanwhile, the inhibition of the invasion, migration, and EMT was also observed in bergenin‐treated cells. Mechanism studies showed that bergenin treatment could activate PPARγ/PTEN/Akt signal pathway, as evidence by the increased nucleus PPARγ and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression and decreased Akt expression. Moreover, PPARγ inhibitor administration inverted the effects of bergenin on bladder cancer cell function, including the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration in bladder cancer cells. Our findings revealed that bergenin could inhibit bladder cancer progression via activating the PPARγ/PTEN/Akt signal pathway, indicating that bergenin may be a potential therapeutic medicine for bladder cancer treatment.