Inhibition of TGF-β Signaling in Gliomas by the Flavonoid Diosmetin Isolated from <i>Dracocephalum peregrinum</i> L.

oleh: Yuli Yan, Xingyu Liu, Jie Gao, Yin Wu, Yuxin Li

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2020-01-01

Deskripsi

<b>Background:</b> <i>Dracocephalum peregrinum</i> L., a traditional Kazakh medicine, has good expectorant, anti-cough, and to some degree, anti-asthmatic effects. Diosmetin (3&#8242;,5,7-trihydroxy-4&#8242;-methoxyflavone), a natural flavonoid found in traditional Chinese herbs, is the main flavonoid in <i>D. peregrinum</i> L. and has been used in various medicinal products because of its anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, estrogenic, and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of diosmetin on the proliferation, invasion, and migration of glioma cells, as well as the possible underlying mechanisms. <b>Methods:</b> 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), scratch wound, and Transwell assays were used to demonstrate the effects of diosmetin in glioma. Protein levels of Bcl-2, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, transforming growth factor-&#946; (TGF-&#946;), E-cadherin, and phosphorylated and unphosphorylated smad2 and smad3 were determined by Western blots. U251 glioma cell development and progression were measured in vivo in a mouse model. <b>Results:</b> Diosmetin inhibited U251 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, the TGF-&#946; signaling pathway, and Bcl-2 expression. In contrast, there was a significant increase in E-cadherin, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 expression. Furthermore, it effectively reduced the tumorigenicity of glioma cells and promoted apoptosis in vivo. <b>Conclusion:</b> The results of this study suggest that diosmetin suppresses the growth of glioma cells in vitro and in vivo, possibly by activating E-cadherin expression and inhibiting the TGF-&#946; signaling pathway.