Suppression of NF-κB and NF-κB-Regulated Gene Expression by Apigenin through IκBα and IKK Pathway in TRAMP Mice

PLoS One. 2015 Sep 17;10(9):e0138710. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138710. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Aberrant Nuclear Factor-κappaB (NF-κB) activation due to rapid IκBα turnover and high basal IκBα kinase (IKK) activity has been frequently observed in prostate cancer. Apigenin, a naturally occurring plant flavone, exhibits anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic activities by inhibiting NF-κB pathway, through a mechanism not fully understood. We found that apigenin feeding in microgram doses (bioavailable in humans) inhibited prostate tumorigenesis in TRAMP mice by interfering with NF-κB signaling. Apigenin feeding to TRAMP mice (20 and 50 μg/mouse/day, 6 days/week for 20 weeks) exhibited significant decrease in tumor volumes of the prostate and completely abolished metastasis, which correlated with inhibition of NF-κB activation and binding to the DNA. Apigenin intake blocked phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα by inhibiting IKK activation, which in turn led to suppression of NF-κB activation. The expression of NF-κB-regulated gene products involved in proliferation (cyclin D1, and COX-2), anti-apoptosis (Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL), and angiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor) were also downregulated after apigenin feeding. These events correlated with the induction of apoptosis in tumor cells, as evident by increased cleaved caspase-3 labeling index in the dorsolateral prostate. Our results provide convincing evidence that apigenin inhibits IKK activation and restores the expression of IκBα, preventing it's phosphorylation in a fashion similar to that elicited by IKK and proteasomal inhibitors through suppression of NF-κB signaling pathway.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apigenin / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Caspase 3 / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Enzyme Activation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • I-kappa B Kinase / genetics*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • NF-kappa B / genetics*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Phosphorylation / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents
  • NF-kappa B
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Apigenin
  • I-kappa B Kinase
  • Caspase 3