Resveratrol inhibits the proliferation of A549 cells by inhibiting the expression of COX-2

PURPOSE: The aim was to investigate resveratrol effects on A549 cells proliferation. METHODS: A total of 104 lung adenocarcinoma tissues and nontumor tissues were collected. BEAS-2B cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium (group A). A549 cells were treated with RPMI 1640 medium containing different resveratrol concentrations. A549 cells were transfected and grouped as follows: blank group, siRNA-negative control group, siRNA-COX-2 group and resveratrol + siRNA-COX-2 group. qRT-PCR and Western blot were conducted to detect COX-2 expression. MTT assay, soft agar clone assay and flow cytometry were performed to assess proliferation and cell cycle. RESULTS: The relative expression of COX-2 mRNA was significantly increased in lung adenocarcinoma tissues (P<0.01) and it was closely related with clinical stages. Resveratrol at 60 μmol/L significantly inhibited A549 cells proliferation, S phase cells proportion and COX-2 expression (P<0.01). COX-2 expression in siRNA-COX-2 group was significantly lower than that in blank group and siRNA-negative control group (P<0.01). OD(570) values, colony formation rate and S phase cells proportion of resveratrol + siRNA-COX-2 group were much lower than those of other groups (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Resveratrol inhibits A549 cells proliferation by inhibiting COX-2 expression.