Naringenin inhibits prostate cancer metastasis by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels

In this study, we investigated the potential effects of naringenin on the motility of MAT-LyLu cells, which overexpress voltage-gated sodium channels and whose metastatic behaviours are associated with these channels. We first determined the concentration of naringenin that did not show toxic effects or block cell growth. Then, the effects of naringenin on cell motility in the lateral and vertical directions were tested by wound healing assays and transwell invasion assays, respectively. Finally, to determine the suppressive effects of naringenin on cell movement in both directions, the expression of the SCN9A gene, which encodes Nav1.7 voltage-gated sodium channel, was determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The data revealed that high concentrations of naringenin (75 mu M) inhibited cell proliferation, whereas low concentrations (5 and 10 mu M) decreased the movement of MAT-LyLu cells. Moreover, 10 mu M naringenin displayed inhibitory effects on cell movement by reducing the expression of the SCN9A gene at the mRNA level. In conclusion, naringenin was found to have direct or indirect blocking activity on voltage-gated sodium channels encoded by the SCN9A gene.