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Baicalin suppresses the cell cycle progression and proliferation of prostate cancer cells through the CDK6/FOXM1 axis

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of baicalin against prostate cancer cell growth and cell cycle progression. A human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP was engrafted into nude mice, and the oncogenicity of LNCaP cells was analyzed. The 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to measure LNCaP and PC3 proliferation capability. CDK6 mRNA level was detected using qRT-PCR. Western blotting was performed to assess the levels of cell cycle-associated proteins. In addition, cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry. Baicalin significantly decreased the expression of cell cycle-associated proteins. Furthermore, baicalin showed an observable effect on proliferation, cell cycle progression and apoptosis in LNCaP and PC3 cells. Upregulation of CDK6 and FOXM1 reversed the effect of baicalin. CDK6- and FOXM1-mediated cell growth attenuated the protective effect of baicalin in prostate cancer. This study presented an understanding of the role and mechanism of baicalin in prostate cancer cells, providing a new target and therapies for the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, People’s Republic of China

    Ziqiang Yu, Changsheng Zhan, Hexi Du, Ligang Zhang, Chaozhao Liang & Li Zhang

  2. Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People’s Republic of China

    Ziqiang Yu, Changsheng Zhan, Hexi Du, Ligang Zhang, Chaozhao Liang & Li Zhang

  3. Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People’s Republic of China

    Ziqiang Yu, Changsheng Zhan, Hexi Du, Ligang Zhang, Chaozhao Liang & Li Zhang

  4. Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, People’s Republic of China

    Ziqiang Yu

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  1. Ziqiang Yu
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Yu, Z., Zhan, C., Du, H. et al. Baicalin suppresses the cell cycle progression and proliferation of prostate cancer cells through the CDK6/FOXM1 axis. Mol Cell Biochem 469, 169–178 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-020-03739-1

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