Effect of Indole-3-Carbinol on Inhibition of MMP Activity via MAPK Signaling Pathway in Human Prostate Cancer Cell Line, PC3 Cells

ABSTRACT

We examined the effect of indole-3-carbinol (I3C, C9H9NO), an autolysis product of a glucosinolate and a glucobrassicin in vegetables, on MMP-2, -9 activities and TIMP-1 and -2 inductions via microtubule-associated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in prostate cancer cell line, PC3 cells. Our results indicated that I3C inhibited cell growth of PC3 cells in dose (0, 50, 100 micrometer) and time (0, 24, 48 and 72 h) dependent manners. Using gelatin zymography for MMP activity, we demonstrated that I3C significantly decrease MMP-2 and -9 activities in PC3 cells. We also observed that I3C decreased the proteins and mRNA levels of MMP-2 and -9 in PC3 cells as well. Inversely, expressions of TIMP-1 and -2 protein and mRNA in PC3 cells were increased by I3C in a dose dependent manner. In another experiment, we showed that I3C inhibited PC3 cells invasiveness by using marigel invasion assay and we also found that I3C suppressed MMP transcriptional activity by MAPK signaling pathways. Taken together, our results suggest that I3C may contribute to the potential beneficial food component to prevent the cancer metastasis in prostate cancer cells.