Objective: Natural flavonoids (plant pigments) have been shown to inhibit thyroid peroxidase (TPO) in vitro and the growth of thyroid cancer cell lines. We have studied the role of flavonoids on the iodide transport and the growth of the human follicular thyroid cancer cell line (FTC133) which was stably transfected with the human Na(+)/I(-) symporter (hNIS).
Design and methods: Cells were treated with flavonoids (0.5-50 microM) for 0, 2, 4 and 6 days; (125)I content and (125)I efflux of the cells and DNA content were measured.
Results: Cell growth was inhibited significantly at day 6 by most flavonoids. Eight out of ten flavonoids decreased the (125)I content of the cells at day 4. Morin did not influence the (125)I content of the cells and, surprisingly, myricetin increased the (125)I content of the cells. Kaempferol, apigenin, luteolin and F21388 decreased NIS mRNA expression after 15, 29 and 48 h; after 96 h NIS mRNA returned to normal.
Conclusion: As TPO is not present in this cell line, the effects of the flavonoids on the iodide uptake are not related to organification. Myricetin was the only flavonoid studied that increased the influx and decreased the efflux of iodide. The effect of myricetin (decreased growth and increased retention of iodide) can be of therapeutic value in the radioiodide treatment of thyroid carcinoma.