Cancer Management and Research (Aug 2020)

Allicin Inhibits Proliferation by Decreasing IL-6 and IFN-β in HCMV-Infected Glioma Cells

  • Yang Z,
  • Du J,
  • Zhu J,
  • Rong Y,
  • Chen S,
  • Yu L,
  • Deng X,
  • Zhang X,
  • Sheng H,
  • Yang L,
  • Lu X,
  • Li D,
  • Yin B,
  • Lin J

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 12
pp. 7305 – 7317

Abstract

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Zelin Yang,1,* Jizao Du,2,* Jinjin Zhu,3 Yuxi Rong,1 Shaohuai Chen,1 Lisheng Yu,1 Xiangyang Deng,1 Xiaojia Zhang,1 Hansong Sheng,1 Liang Yang,1 Xiangqi Lu,1 Dandong Li,1 Bo Yin,1 Jian Lin1 1Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Digestive Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Neonatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jian LinThe Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 577 8800 2502Fax +86 577 8883 2693Email [email protected]: Allicin, an extract of garlic, has antitumor effects in multiple tumor types. However, the efficacy of allicin for treating glioblastoma has not yet been examined. This study examined the antitumor effect of allicin on human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-infected glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and its role in cytokine signaling.Materials and Methods: HCMV-infected glioblastoma was modeled by transfection of U87MG glioblastoma cells with HMCV proteins. MTT assay was used to assess the effect of allicin on the proliferation of glioma cells. Western blot analysis was used to detect the effect of allicin on the expression of intermediate-early gene 2 (IE2) and p53. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to assess and the levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and interferon (IFN)-β. Single cell gel electrophoresis was used to analyze changes in radiotherapy-induced DNA damage.Results: Transfection of the IE2 protein led to decreased p53 expression and increased glioblastoma cell proliferation. Allicin inhibited this proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. An inhibitory effect on cytokine release was observed in GBM cells treated with allicin. After treatment with allicin, p53 levels increased significantly, whereas expression of the inflammatory factors such as IL-6 and IFN-β decreased. U87MG cells treated with allicin and 10 Gy irradiation had increased intracellular DNA damage compared to either treatment alone.Conclusion: Allicin inhibited proliferation of glioblastoma cells in vitro. Allicin also inhibited cytokine release, upregulated p53 activity, and increased the sensitivity of glioblastoma to radiotherapy. These results suggest that allicin is effective against HCMV-infected glioblastomas.Keywords: allicin, cytomegalovirus, glioblastoma, inflammatory mediators, proliferation, radiotherapy

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