Genistein inhibits glioma cell proliferation and suppresses gD gene expression in HSV-1 infection

This study aims to investigate inhibitory effects of Genistein (GST) on abnormal changes of proliferation and apoptosis in Human Glioma cell (U251) induced by HSV-1. U251 cells were infected by HSV-1 at a multiplicity of infection of 5. GST, GST+HSV-1, HSV-1 and control group were set up. MTT assay, cell apoptosis and RT-PCR were performed to detect inhibitory effects of GST on abnormal changes of proliferation and apoptosis induced by HSV-1 in U251 cells. There were great differences among different groups (P<0.05). Compared to control group, cell proliferation were inhibited in 30 mu g/ml GST and HSV-1 group (P<0.05). MTT values in 15 mu g/ml GST+HSV-1 were higher than those in HSV-1 group (P<0.05). Cell proliferation were inhibited in both 3.75 mu g/ml GST+HSV-1 and 30 mu g/ml GST+HSV-1 group compared to HSV-1 group (P<0.05). In HSV-1 group, cells started to merge at 12 h post-infection, and cytopathic effects (CPE) were observed at 36 h post-infection. In 15 mu g/ml GST+HSV-1 group, a few merges appeared at 24 h post-infection and increased at 36 h post-infection when most cells kept normal forms. Apoptosis rates in 15 mu g/ml GST+ HSV-1 group were lower than that in HSV-1 group (P<0.05). gD gene expression at 6 h post-infection in HSV-1 group and 24 h post-infection in 15 mu g/ml GST+ HSV-1 group. In conclusion, GST at appropriate concentration does not influence proliferation or apoptosis of normal cells, but could inhibit abnormality glioma cell proliferation and apoptosis, as well as gD gene expression in HSV-1 infection.