3,3'-Diindolylmethane induces anti-human gastric cancer cells by the miR-30e-ATG5 modulating autophagy.

3,3'-Diindolylmethane (DIM), a class of relatively non-toxic indole derivatives from cruciferous vegetables, has been reported as a promising anticancer phytochemical, but the underlying molecular mechanism is not completely elucidated. In the present study we report a novel regulation of autophagy by DIM in human gastric cancer cells. We found that DIM dose-dependently inhibited the growth of gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, ATG5 and LC3 were activated by DIM in gastric cancer cells. Furthermore, miR-30e was down-regulated by DIM and miR-30e targeted the 3'-UTR of ATG5 to inhibit its translation. Overall, these results suggest that DIM may through the miR-30e-ATG5 modulating autophagy inhibit the proliferation of gastric cancer cells.