ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Vitexin, an inhibitor of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, has anti-tumor effect. However, whether it can enhance the radiotherapy sensitization of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on glioma is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of vitexin. METHODS: The nude mice with paw-transplanted glioma were divided into four groups: control group, HBO + radiation group, HBO + vitexin group, and HBO + vitexin + radiation group. The mice of last two groups were daily given vitexin 75 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection. 30 min after administration of vitexin, the HBO-treated mice were daily placed in HBO chamber for 60 min. The radiation-treated mice were given local tumor irradiation once every week during the HBO treatment, and the dose of irradiation was 10 Gy/time. The experimental treatment lasted for 21 days. RESULTS: Compared with the HBO + radiation group, the tumor volume, tumor weight, and tumor weight coefficient in the HBO + vitexin + radiation group were lower (p < 0.05). Importantly, the contents of reduced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase as well as expressions of HIF-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor, glucose transporter (GLUT)-1, and GLUT-3 proteins in tumor tissues were also lower in the HBO + vitexin + radiation group than in the HBO + radiation group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Vitexin can cooperate with HBO to sensitize the glioma radiotherapy, and its mechanisms may be correlated to the inhibition of HIF-1α protein expression and subsequent decrements of its downstream protein expressions, which finally cause the reduction of antioxidant capacity.