Figure 2.

Limonin suppressed tumor glycolysis by decreasing HK-2 activity.

Notes: (A and B) Limonin inhibited tumor glycolysis in HepG2 and Hep3B cells. HepG2 (A) or Hep3B (B) cells were treated with different concentrations of limonin for 24 h; glucose consumption (left), lactate production (middle) and intracellular ATP levels (right) were examined as described. The asterisks (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001, Student’s t-test) indicate statistical difference versus the control. (C) Limonin had no effects on the expressions of important glycolytic enzymes. After incubation of limonin for 24 h, the expression of given protein was determined by Western blotting. (D) Limonin reduced HK-2 activity dose dependently. After treatment with limonin, the activities of HK-2 were detected as described in “Materials and methods” section. The asterisks (**p<0.01, ***p<0.001, Student’s t-test) indicate significant difference in contrast with the control.

Abbreviation: HK-2, hexokinase-2.