title: Apigenin inhibits growth and motility but increases gap junctional coupling intensity in rat prostate carcinoma (MAT-LyLu) cell populations.
abstract: Apigenin (4',5,7,-trihydroxyflavone) is a flavonoid abundant in the common fruits, herbs and vegetables constituting the bulk of the human diet. This study was aimed at quantifying the effects of apigenin on the basic cellular traits determining cancer development, i.e. cell proliferation, gap junctional coupling, and motility, using the Dunning rat prostate MAT-LyLu cell model. We demonstrated that apigenin considerably inhibits MAT-LyLu cell proliferation and significantly enhances the intensity of connexin43-mediated gap junctional coupling. This effect correlates with an increased abundance of Cx43-positive plaques at the cell-to-cell borders seen in apigenin-treated variants. Moreover, we observed an inhibitory effect of apigenin on the motility of MAT-LyLu cells. The basic parameters characterising MAT-LyLu cell motility, especially the rate of cell displacement, considerably decreased upon apigenin administration. This in vitro data indicates that apigenin may affect cancer development in general, and prostate carcinogenesis in particular, via its influence on cellular activities decisive for both cancer promotion and progression, including cell proliferation, gap junctional coupling and cell motility and invasiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Czernik
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sroka
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Madeja
authors.forename: Jarosław
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czyz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047310:Apigenin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D047310:Apigenin