Fig. 3: The AKT/mTOR signaling pathway mediates the effect of echinatin on autophagy and apoptosis in ESCC cells.

a Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) suggested a dysregulation of AKT pathway in echinatin-treated KYSE30 cells. b KYSE30 and KYSE270 cells were exposed to different concentrations of echinatin for 48 h, and western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression levels of AKT, p-AKT, mTOR, and p-mTOR. c–f The KYSE30 and KYSE270 cells transfected with AKT (T308D/S473D)-expressing plasmid or vector control were treated with echinatin at the indicated concentrations for 48 h, and then compared for p-mTOR expression (c), cell viability (d), apoptosis (e), and expression levels of AKT, p-AKT, mTOR, p-mTOR, LC3, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP (f). Bars, SD; *P < 0.05, **P < 0. 01.