Celastrol inhibits colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration through suppression of MMP3and MMP7by the PI3K/AKTsignaling pathway

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most frequent malignant tumors. Signaling by the PI3K/AKTpathway is crucial for CRC development and progression, including proliferation and migration. Celastrol has an anticancer effect, but its mechanism needs to be determined. Here, we showed that celastrol suppressed CRC cell proliferation and migration. Celastrol treatment also decreased the PI3K/AKTpathway components, and MMP3and MMP7expression levels. In addition, knockdown of AKT, not mTOR, inhibited MMP3and MMP7expression levels and AKTsilencing promoted the celastrol-induced effects on CRC cell proliferation and migration. Taken together, these findings indicated that the celastrol-induced antitumor effects were mediated through MMP3and MMP7by the PI3K/AKTsignaling pathway.