Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of honokiol on the expression of tissue factor pathway inhibitor2（TFPI2） and the effect of overexpression of honokiol and TFPI2 on the apoptosis of human glioma U251 cells. 
MethodsThe U87， U251， LN18， LN229 and A172 cell lines of glioma were cultured in vitro， and the expression of TFPI2 in different cell lines was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR （QPCR）. Honokiol treated U251 cells with different concentrations （0， 10， 20， 30， 40 and 50 μmol／L）. QPCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expression changes of TFPI2 mRNA and protein. The expression of TFPI2 in U251 cells was overexpressed by adenovirus vector pGSadenoTFPI2， and apoptosis rate and caspase3 activity were detected by flow cytometry and caspase3 kit. 
ResultsThe TFPI2 mRNA in U251 and A172 cells decreased significantly in U87， U251， LN18， LN229 and A172 cell lines （P＜005）. Honokiol increased TFPI2 mRNA level in U251 cells in a concentration dependent manner （P＜005）. After 50 μmol／L honokiol intervened for 24 h， the expression level of TFPI2 mRNA increased most significantly （P＜005）. The expression level of TFPI2 in U251 cells increased significantly after transfected with adenovirus vector pGSadenoTFPI2 （P＜005）. Overexpression of TFPI2 and 50 μmol／L honokiol could increase U251 cell apoptosis and caspase3 activity （P＜005）. 
ConclusionHonokiol can increase the expression of TFPI2 in U251 cells， and overexpressed TFPI2 combined with honokiol significantly induced apoptosis in glioma cells.

Key words: Glioblastoma, Tissue factor pathway inhibitor2（TFPI2）, Honokiol, Apoptosis