Abstract: Objective To investigate the mechanisms of GATA3/GATA6 regulating autophagy and proliferation of colon cancer cell lines.〖WTHZ〗Methods Colon cancer cell line HCT116 were used as experimental materials,and transfected with the vectors expressing small interfering RNAs targeting GATA3 and GATA6 and the negative control vectors,respectively.Flow cytometry was used to detect cell cycle changes in the transfected cells,Annexin-V-FITC/PI double staining was used to detect apoptosis,and MDC staining was applied to measure cell autophagy. Results Flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis rate of colon cancer cells after GATA3/GATA6 interference[(43.15±13.58)%] was significantly higher than that of blank control group[(4.13±0.46)%,P<0.05].In the control group, the proliferation levels of colon cancer cells at 0h, 24h, 48h and 72h were 1.05±0.06、1.01±0.07、1.03±0.04、1.06±0.07,respectively.After GATA3/GATA6 interference,the data were 1.04±0.04、0.81±0.03、0.61±0.06、0.49±0.05,respectively. Compared with the control group, the survival rate of colon cancer cells decreased significantly, and showed a downward trend over time（P<0.05).The mRNA expression levels of mTOR, ULK1 and LC3-B in colon cancer cells after GATA3/GATA6 interference were 0.62±0.13、0.51±0.06、0.37±0.04,respectively,which were significantly decreased compared with the control group(0.92±0.16、0.86±0.13、0.82±0.14,respectively)(P<0.05).After interfering GATA3/GATA6,the protein expression levels of mTOR,ULK1 and LC3-B in colon cancer cells were significantly lower than those in control group(P<0.05). Conclusion Interfering GATA3/GATA6 may inhibit autophagy and cell proliferation in colon cancer cells,and increase apoptosis.

Key words: GATA3, GATA6, colon cancer, autophagy, proliferation