Autophagy of prostate cancer PC-3 cells under the induction of oridonin

To investigate the mechanism of oridonin (ORI)-induced autophagy in prostate cancer PC-3 cells. The PC-3 cells cultured in vitro were treated with ORI. The inhibitory ratio of oridonin In PC-3 cells was assayed by MTT. The ultrastructural cellular changes were observed under light microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). AO staining was used to observe the acidic vesicular organelles (AVOs). The level of MAP1-LC3 was detected by Western blot and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) used to detect the level of mRNA of beclin 1. After oridonin treatment, the proliferation of PC-3 cells was inhibited significantly in a concentration and time-dependent manner. The SEM examination revealed cellular shrinkage and the disappearance of surface microvilli after ORI treatment. And on the TEM examination, the nuclei exhibited chromatin condensation and the appearance of a large number of autophagosome with double-membrane structure in cytoplasm. AO staining showed the existence of AVOs. Simultaneously, the expressions of autophagy-related proteins, MAP-LC3 and the mRNA level of beclin 1 were elevated by ORI. The autophagy inhibitor 3-MA reversed the elevation of beclin 1 mRNA. The growth of PC-3 cells is inhibited. And cellular is induced by oridonin with a potential anti-tumor effect.