Brexpiprazole suppresses cell proliferation and de novo lipogenesis through AMPK/SREBP1 pathway in colorectal cancer

Abstract Objective In the present study, we investigated the role of brexpiprazole on cell proliferation and lipogenesis in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its molecular mechanism. Methods The effect of brexpiprazole on CRC cell proliferation was determined by CCK‐8, EdU assay, cell clone formation. The flow cytometry was evaluated cell cycle. Differential expression genes (DEGs) were identified by RNA‐seq assay after treating HCT116 cells with or without 20 μM brexpiprazole for 24 h. Then, the top 120 DEGs were analyzed by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. After that, Oil red O staining and the levels of total cholestenone and triglyceride were measured to assess lipogenesis capacity in CRC cells. The related molecules of cell proliferation, lipogenic and AMPK/SREBP1 signal pathways were measured by q‐PCR, western blot and immunohistochemical staining. Results Brexpiprazole remarkably suppressed cell proliferation, lipogenesis, and induced cell cycle arrest in CRC. The underlying mechanisms probably involved the suppression of SREBP1 and the stimulation of AMPK. Conclusion Brexpiprazole inhibited cell proliferation and de novo lipogenesis through AMPK/SREBP1 pathway in CRC.