Objective To investigate the effect of ATG5 on the senescence and proliferation of colon cancer HT29 cell line. Methods The senescence of colon cancer HT29 cell line was induced by doxorubicin. ATG5 expression was detected by Western blot. Low expression of ATG5 was detected by transient transfection of small interfering RNA, and the proportion of cell senescence and proliferation ability were detected by beta-galactosidase staining and CCK assay, respectively. At the same time, we added Rapa to induce autophagy and detected the proportion of cell senescence and proliferation ability. The effect of ATG5 on cell senescence related pathway proteins P53 and P21 was detected by Western blot. Results The protein expression of ATG5 was down-regulated by doxorubicin-induced cell senescence. The mean number of senescent cells in the SiNC control group was 3±1, while that in the SiATG5 group was 12±2, and that in the low-expression ATG5 plus Rapa group was 12±1. Low expression of ATG5 could up-regulate the expression of senescence-related proteins P53 and P21. Conclusion Down-regulation of ATG5 promotes the senescence of colon cancer cells by up-regulating p53/p21.
