Sulforaphane inhibits proliferation of colon cancer HT-29 cells via regulating TGF β1/Smad signaling pathway

ObjectiveTo study the effect of sulforaphane on the proliferation of colon cancer HT-29 cells and its potential mechanism.

MethodsCCK8 was used to detect the effect of sulforaphane on the proliferation of HT-29 cells.Flow cytometry was applied to determine the apoptosis of HT-29 cells.ELISA was performed to measure the levels of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1).Western blotting was carried out to analyze the expression of p-Smad3, Smad4, Cyclin D1 and c-Myc protein.

ResultsCCK8 results showed that the inhibitory effect of sulforaphane on the proliferation of HT-29 cells increased with the increase of drug concentration and time (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).The apoptosis rate of HT-29 cells treated with 10, 20, 40 μmol/L sulforaphane was higher than that in control group (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).The results of ELISA showed that the level of TGF-β1 in cell culture medium in 10, 20, 40 μmol/L sulforaphane group was lower than that in control group (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).The expression of p-Smad3, Smad4, Cyclin D1 and c-Myc protein in HT-29 cells after treatment with 10, 20, 40 μmol/L sulforaphane was decreased compared with control group (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).

ConclusionsSulforaphane can inhibit the proliferation of colon cancer HT-29 cells, the mechanism of which might be related to the regulation of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.