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Silibinin down-regulates survivin protein and mRNA expression and causes caspases activation and apoptosis in human

Anil K Tyagi1, Chapla Agarwal, Rana P Singh

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80262, USA.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|December 4, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Silibinin, a milk thistle extract, significantly reduced survivin protein and mRNA levels in human bladder cancer cells. This suggests silibinin

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Natural Product Chemistry

Background:

  • Bladder cancer is a significant health concern in the US.
  • Survivin (inhibitor of apoptosis protein family) is frequently deregulated in bladder cancer.
  • Survivin is a potential therapeutic target for inducing cancer cell apoptosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of silibinin on survivin expression in human bladder cancer cells.
  • To evaluate silibinin's potential role in bladder cancer intervention.

Main Methods:

  • Human bladder transitional-cell papilloma RT4 cells were treated with varying doses of silibinin.
  • Survivin protein levels were analyzed using Western blotting.
  • Survivin mRNA levels were quantified via real-time RT-PCR.

Main Results:

  • Silibinin treatment dose-dependently decreased survivin protein and mRNA levels.
  • Higher doses (200 microM) for 24-48 hours led to a complete loss of survivin protein.
  • Silibinin-induced survivin down-regulation correlated with increased caspase activation, PARP cleavage, apoptosis, and growth inhibition.

Conclusions:

  • Silibinin effectively down-regulates survivin expression in human bladder cancer cells.
  • The observed effects are linked to apoptosis induction and growth inhibition.
  • Further in vivo studies are warranted to explore silibinin's efficacy for human bladder cancer prevention and intervention.

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