Diosgenin inhibits telomerase activity by down regulation of hTERT gene expression in A549 cell line. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Diosgenin inhibits hTERT gene expression in the A549 lung cancer cell line.
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2013 ;14(11):6945-8. PMID: 24377630
Rahmati Yamchi Mohammad
BACKGROUND: Diosgenin, a steroidal saponin from a therapeutic herb, fenugreek (Trigonellafoenum-graceum L.), has been recognized to have anticancer properties. Telomerase activity is not detected in typical healthy cells, while in cancer cell telomerase expression is reactivated, therefore providing a promising cancer therapeutic target.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied the inhibitory effect of diosgenin on human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (hTERT) expression which is critical for telomerase activity. MTT- assays and qRT-PCR analysis were conducted to assess cytotoxicity and hTERT gene expression inhibition effects, respectively.
RESULTS: MTT results showed that IC50 values for 24, 48 and 72h after treatment were 47, 44 and 43μM, respectively. Culturing cells with diosgenin treatment caused down-regulation of hTERT expression.
DISCUSSION: These results show that diosgenin inhibits telomerase activity by down-regulation of hTERT gene expression in the A549 lung cancer cell line.