Abstract
Apigenin is a flavonoid with antioxidant and anticancer effects. It has been reported that apigenin inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion and induces apoptosis in cultured lung cancer cells. However, there is little information on the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in its effects. miRNA microarray analysis and polymerase-chain-reaction analysis of miRNAs revealed that treatment of human lung cancer A549 cells with apigenin up-regulated the level of miR-34a-5p. Furthermore, mRNA microarray analysis and the results of three microRNA target prediction tools showed that Snail Family Transcriptional Repressor 1 (SNAI1), which inhibits the induction of apoptosis, had its mRNA expression down-regulated in A549 cells treated with apigenin. Our findings suggest that apigenin might induce apoptosis by down-regulation of SNAI1 through up-regulation of miR-34a-5p in A549 cells.
Highlights
Apigenin (4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavone) is a flavone classed as a flavonoid based on the structure flavan, and is found in many kinds of vegetables and fruits [1] including olives [2], parsley [3, 4], celery [3, 5], chamomile [6] and guava [1]
MiRNAs bind with sequence complementarity to the 3′ untranslated regions (3′UTR) of one or more target mRNAs and act as endogenous regulators of their gene expression [13]. miRNAs are first transcribed by RNA polymerase II in the nucleus to primary miRNAs
We tried to clarify the relationship between miRNA and apoptotic induction by apigenin in the lung cancer cell line A549
Summary
Apigenin (4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavone) is a flavone classed as a flavonoid based on the structure flavan, and is found in many kinds of vegetables and fruits [1] including olives [2], parsley [3, 4], celery [3, 5], chamomile [6] and guava [1]. Apigenin has antioxidant effects that stabilize free radicals of the reactive oxygen species that can damage DNA or proteins [7]. It has anti-cancer effects that include inhibiting cell growth, arresting the cell cycle, and inducing apoptosis in many cancers including leukemia [8, 9]. We investigated the involvement of miRNA miRNAs bind with sequence complementarity to the 3′ untranslated regions (3′UTR) of one or more target mRNAs and act as endogenous regulators of their gene expression [13]. Pri-miRNAs are processed by class 2 ribonuclease III enzyme (Drosha) to generate precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
