Effects of Quercetin on Signaling Proteins (pSTAT3, pERK1/2, pAKT) and Interleukin-6 Gene Expression in Prostate Cancer PC3 cells

Background and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) causes the progression of prostate cancer through pSTAT3, pERK1/2, and pAKT cell signaling proteins. Quercetin, an herbal antioxidant, has anti-tumor effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of quercetin on IL-6 gene expression, and the above cellular signaling proteins in PC3 prostate cancer cells.
In this experimental study, PC3 cells were treated with different concentrations of quercetin at 0, 10, 50, and 100 μM. Then, IL-6 concentration was determined in cell culture media. Also, total RNA and the cellular signaling proteins aforementioned were extracted from PC3 and used for determining IL-6 gene expression by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively.
The quercetin IC50 for PC3 prostate cancer cells was 100 μM. Elevation of quercetin concentration in cell culture media increased the IL-6 gene expression and protein synthesis. At 50 and 100 μM of quercetin, IL-6 protein synthesis increased significantly (P The effects of quercetin on PC3 cells could have resulted from reduction of pSTAT3, pERK1/2, pAKT, induction of the oxidative stress and generation of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, quercetin can be considered as a useful therapeutic agent in treatment of prostate cancer.