Genistein and curcumin suppress epidermal growth factor-induced MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression from human airway epithelial cells.

This study investigated whether genistein and curcumin affect epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression from human airway epithelial cells. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with each agent for 30 min and then stimulated with EGF for 24 h. The MUC5AC mucin gene expression and mucin protein production were measured by reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The results were as follows: (1) genistein and curcumin inhibited the production of MUC5AC mucin protein induced by EGF, dose-dependently; (2) genistein and curcumin also inhibited the expression of MUC5AC mucin gene induced by EGF. This result suggests that genistein and curcumin can regulate mucin gene expression and production of mucin protein induced by EGF, by directly acting on airway epithelial cells.