Allicin Inhibits Proliferation and Promotes Apoptosis of Human Epidural Scar Fibroblasts.

Abstract

Allicin can suppress liver and cardiac fibrosis; thus, we hypothesized that it might prevent scar tissue from extensive epidural fibrosis after laminectomy. Human epidural scar fibroblasts were isolated from surgical specimens and treated with allicin at a gradient of concentrations. Morphology, viability, migration rate, cell cycle, and apoptosis rate were measured by fluorescence microscope, Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, scratch assay, and flow cytometry. Western blot was used to measure the expression level of proliferation-related proteins. After treatment by allicin, cell viability (P = 0.042) and migration rate (P = 0.010 in scratch assay and P = 0.025 in transwell assay) decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner. The percentage of G₁ phase cells significantly decreased (P = 0.017), whereas the percentage of S phase cells (P = 0.096) and G₂ phase cells (P = 0.038) significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, the percentage of apoptotic cells increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner (P = 0.036). Compared with the control group, the expression level of proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein (P = 0.081) and Bcl-2 protein (P = 0.029) significantly decreased, whereas the BAX protein level significantly increased (P = 0.017). Allicin can suppress human epidural scar fibroblast migration, induce cell apoptosis, and block cell proliferation at S phase and G₂ phase.