The comprehensive pathological peculiarities of Neferine (NEF) have been testified in disparate diseases. But, the functions of NEF in choriocarcinoma progression remain unexplored. The research endeavoured to uncover the anti-tumour action of NEF in choriocarcinoma cells. NEF at diverse doses was employed to dispose JEG-3 and HTR-8 cells, and cell viability assessment adopted CCK-8 assay. After 60 μg/mL NEF management, BrdU-positive cells, apoptosis, migration, invasion and correlative factors were assessed. CHRF expression in choriocarcinoma tumour and choriocarcinoma cell lines was estimated via RT-qPCR. Then, the functions of overexpressed CHRF in NEF-disposed cells were determined. At last, impacts of NEF on PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK1/2 pathways were evaluated. Results showed that NEF restrained cell proliferation, triggered apoptosis and repressed migration and invasion in JEG-3 and HTR-8 cells. CHRF was ascended in choriocarcinoma tissues and NEF repressed CHRF expression in choriocarcinoma cell lines. Additionally, overexpressed CHRF abolished the above functions of NEF in choriocarcinoma cells proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion. Further, NEF impeded PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK1/2 pathways via repressing CHRF. The explorations testified that NEF exhibited the anti-tumour action in JEG-3 and HTR-8 cells via hindering PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK1/2 pathways by mediating CHRF.
Keywords: Choriocarcinoma; ERK1/2; PI3K/AKT/mTOR; cardiac hypertrophy related factor (CHRF); neferine.