OBJECTIVES

To investigate the mechanism of luteolin for inhibiting proliferation of lung cancer A549 cells.

METHODS

A549 cells treated with different concentrations of luteolin for 48 h were evaluated for changes in cell viability, proliferation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis using MTT assay, plate cloning assay, EdU staining, DCFH-DA assay and Hoechst33258 staining. The changes in cell autophagy were examined with MDC staining, and the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, and cleaved caspase-9), autophagy-related proteins (LC3B, Beclin 1, and P62), AKT/mTOR pathway proteins, and HO-1 protein were detected using Western blotting.

RESULTS

Treatment with luteolin dose-dependently inhibited the viability and proliferation of A549 cells, increased intracellular ROS levels, up-regulated the expressions of Bax, cleaved caspase-9, and Beclin 1, increased the LC3B-II/LC3B-I ratio, down-regulated the expressions of Bcl-2 and P62, and induced cell apoptosis and autophagy. Luteolin also significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT and mTOR and down-regulated the expression of HO-1 protein in the cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Luteolin induces apoptosis and autophagy to inhibit proliferation of A549 cells by increasing ROS production, inhibiting the AKT/mTOR pathway and down-regulating HO-1 protein expression.