Regulation of C6 glioma cell migration by thymol

Tumor cell motility exhibits a crucial role in tumor development. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate whether thymol could reduce C6 glioma cell migration. Cell viability was determined using the EZ-Cytox Cell Viability kit. The scratch wound healing and Boyden chamber assays were performed to test C6 glioma cell migration in the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS). Additionally, the study investigated whether signaling proteins relevant to C6 glioma cell migration, i.e., extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)1/2, protein kinase C (PKC), matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)9 and MMP2, were affected by thymol treatment. Up to 30 mu M, thymol did not alter cell viability, whereas 100 mu M thymol induced the death of similar to 20% of the cells. Furthermore, thymol (30 mu M) significantly reduced FBS-induced migration. In the FBS-stimulated C6 glioma cells, thymol (30 mu M) suppressed PKC and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. MMP9 and MMP2 production was also significantly reduced by treatment with 30 mu M thymol in the C6 glioma cells. Taken together, these results indicate that thymol attenuates C6 glioma cell migration. Additionally, the study suggests that the effect of thymol on the FBS-induced migration of C6 glioma cells affects PKC and ERK1/2 signaling, and suppresses MMP9 and MMP2 production.