Genistein inhibited the proliferation of kidney cancer cells via CDKN2a hypomethylation: role of abnormal apoptosis

Abstract

Genistein is recognized as a potent anti-oxidant in soybean-enriched foods, which is a kind of phytoestrogen involved in anticancer activity in various cancers. The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanism of CDKN2a hypomethylation involved in the anti-tumor effect of genistein on kidney cancer. The CDKN2a expression was measured using qRT-PCR. The level of CDKN2a methylation was detected using methylation-specific PCR. The apoptosis was detected via flow-cytometric analysis. The cell viability was detected using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Our results indicated that genistein induced cell apoptosis and inhibited the cell proliferation of kidney cancer cells. Moreover, genistein increased the expression of CDKN2a and decreased CDKN2a methylation. Our results demonstrated that the anti-tumor effect of genistein might induce cell apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation of kidney cancer cells via regulating CDKN2a methylation.