Growth inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma Huh7 cells by Lactobacillus casei extract

The Effect of G. applanatum Crude Polysaccharide Extract on Proinflammatory Cytokines and Proapoptotic Caspases in HeLa Cell Line: An In Vitro Study

Polysaccharide extracts exhibit promise as potential anticancer agents. Among the fungi rich in polysaccharide content, G. applanatum stands out; however, its anticancer activity necessitates further investigation. This study aims to explore the impact of G. applanatum crude polysaccharide (GACP) extract by assessing its effects on cell viability, levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-12, and levels of proapoptotic markers including caspase-3 and caspase-9, as well as the percentages of necrosis and apoptosis in the HeLa cell line. Employing the HeLa cell line as a research model, four groups were studied: KN (media and DMSO), K+ (doxorubicin 10 μg/mL), P1 (G. applanatum extract 200 μg/mL), and P2 (G. applanatum extract 400 μg/mL). The G. applanatum extract was obtained via boiling distilled water. Anticancer activity was evaluated through the MTT test (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) conducted over three treatment durations (24, 48, and 72 hours). Cytokine levels and caspase-3 and caspase-9 levels were assessed using the ELISA test. Cell apoptosis was determined using the Annexin V-PI biomarker and analyzed through flow cytometry. The MTT test exhibited optimal results at the 48-hour treatment mark. Cytokine level analysis revealed significant reductions in TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-12 levels (p < 0.005). Concurrently, caspase-3 and caspase-9 levels exhibited substantial increases (p < 0.005). Flow cytometry highlighted the highest percentage of apoptosis in HeLa cells. In conclusion, G. applanatum's polysaccharide extract demonstrates potential as an anticancer and therapeutic agent for cancer treatment.

Proteomics, Personalized Medicine and Cancer

As of 2020 the human genome and proteome are both at >90% completion based on high stringency analyses. This has been largely achieved by major technological advances over the last 20 years and has enlarged our understanding of human health and disease, including cancer, and is supporting the current trend towards personalized/precision medicine. This is due to improved screening, novel therapeutic approaches and an increased understanding of underlying cancer biology. However, cancer is a complex, heterogeneous disease modulated by genetic, molecular, cellular, tissue, population, environmental and socioeconomic factors, which evolve with time. In spite of recent advances in treatment that have resulted in improved patient outcomes, prognosis is still poor for many patients with certain cancers (e.g., mesothelioma, pancreatic and brain cancer) with a high death rate associated with late diagnosis. In this review we overview key hallmarks of cancer (e.g., autophagy, the role of redox signaling), current unmet clinical needs, the requirement for sensitive and specific biomarkers for early detection, surveillance, prognosis and drug monitoring, the role of the microbiome and the goals of personalized/precision medicine, discussing how emerging omics technologies can further inform on these areas. Exemplars from recent onco-proteogenomic-related publications will be given. Finally, we will address future perspectives, not only from the standpoint of perceived advances in treatment, but also from the hurdles that have to be overcome.

Identification of the effects of acid-resistant Lactobacillus casei metallopeptidase gene under colon-specific promoter on the colorectal and breast cancer cell lines

OBJECTIVES

Anti-tumor effects of Lactobacilli as normal flora have been described. In a previous study, we identified a protein isolated from the bacterium Lactobacillus casei ATCC 39392 in acidic pH conditions named metallopeptidase. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the effect of the recombinant plasmid coding metallopeptidase protein on the inhibition, proliferation, or apoptosis of the colorectal and breast cancer cell lines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Identified metallopeptidase gene of L. casei under the specific colon cancer promoter was transferred to the Human SW480 and MDA-MB231 cells. Cell viability was evaluated in these two cancer cell lines via MTT assay, apoptotic changes, and expression level of p53 and MAP2K1 genes in comparison with healthy blood cells as a control group.

RESULTS

Viability of SW480 and MDA-MB231 cells was identified at 25% and 7%, respectively. An increase in apoptotic cell death in the SW480 cell line was observed as revealed by Tunnel staining. The expression assay of TP53 and MAP2K1 genes showed that MPL protein altered gene expression in a cell type-specific manner. Tunnel analyses showed that the pronounced cytotoxic effect of pEGFP-C2/MPL plasmid on SW480 cells was mediated through apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that endogenous recombinant MPL under colon specific promoter inhibits the proliferation of SW480 colorectal cancer cells by increase in MAP2K1 and P53 activation. L. casei metallopeptidase under the same circumstances could not affect the growth rate and viability of MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells in vitro.

Antitumoural activity of a cytotoxic peptide of Lactobacillus casei peptidoglycan and its interaction with mitochondrial-bound hexokinase

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

In a previous study, we reported the cytotoxic activity against various tumour cells of the peptidoglycan of Lactobacillus casei. To isolate the most active components, we performed column-chromatography separation of the peptidoglycan complex and tested the related fractions for their cytotoxic activity. The most active fractions were then lyophilized and the residue was analysed by gas chromatography for its amino acid content and composition. On the basis of the known chemical formula of the basic peptidic component of the peptidoglycan complex of L. casei, a peptide was then synthesized [Europ. (CH-DE-FR-GB) Patent number 1217005; IT number 01320177] and its cytotoxicity was tested against tumoural and normal cells. The synthetic peptide was found to impair the entire metabolism of cultured tumour cells and to restore the apoptotic process. By contrast, normal cells appeared to be stimulated rather than inhibited by the peptide, whereas primary mouse embryo fibroblasts behaved similarly to tumour cells. On the basis of these results, L. casei peptidoglycan fragments and their constituent basic peptide might be applicable as potent antitumour agents.

Lack of Vitamin D Receptor Causes Dysbiosis and Changes the Functions of the Murine Intestinal Microbiome

PURPOSE

The microbiome modulates numerous aspects of human physiology and is a crucial factor in the development of various human diseases. Vitamin D deficiency and downregulation of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) are also associated with the pathogenesis of diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, cancers, obesity, diabetes, and asthma. VDR is a nuclear receptor that regulates the expression of antimicrobial peptides and autophagy regulator ATG16L1. Vitamin D may promote a balanced intestinal microbiome and improve glucose homeostasis in diabetes. However, how VDR regulates microbiome is not well known. In the current study, we hypothesize that VDR status regulates the composition and functions of the intestinal bacterial community.

METHODS

Fecal and cecal stool samples were harvested from Vdr knockout (Vdr(-/-)) and wild-type mice for bacterial DNA and then sequenced with 454 pyrosequencing. The sequences were denoised and clustered into operational taxonomic units, then queried against the National Center for Biotechnology Information database. Metagenomics were analyzed, and the abundances of genes involved in metabolic pathways were compared by reference to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Clusters of Orthologous Groups databases.

FINDINGS

In the Vdr(-/-) mice, Lactobacillus was depleted in the fecal stool, whereas Clostridium and Bacteroides were enriched. Bacterial taxa along the Sphingobacteria-to-Sphingobacteriaceae lineage were enriched, but no genera reached statistical significance. In the cecal stool, Alistipes and Odoribacter were depleted, and Eggerthella was enriched. Notably, all of the taxa upstream of Eggerthella remained unchanged. A comparison of Vdr(-/-) and wild-type samples revealed 40 (26 enriched, 14 depleted) and 72 (41 enriched, 31 depleted) functional modules that were significantly altered in the cecal and fecal microbiomes, respectively (both, P < 0.05), due to the loss of Vdr. In addition to phylogenetic differences in gut microbiome with different intestinal origins, we identify several important pathways, such as nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor, affected by Vdr status, including amino acid, carbohydrate, and fatty acid synthesis and metabolism, detoxification, infections, signal transduction, and cancer and other diseases.

IMPLICATIONS

Our study fills knowledge gaps by having investigated the microbial profile affected by VDR. Insights from our findings can be exploited to develop novel strategies to treat or prevent various diseases by restoring VDR function and healthy microbe-host interactions.

The effect of Lactobacillus casei extract on cervical cancer cell lines

Aim of the study

Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of several types of cancer in vivo, but its effect on cervical cells has not been reported. We incubated cells of the human cervical cell lines Caski and HeLa with extracts of L. casei and investigated its effects on the growth of the cells and possible synergy with anticancer drugs.

Material and methods

Cell-free extracts of L. casei were prepared and purified. Cultures of Caski and HeLa cells adhering to tissue culture plates were treated with L. casei extract. The effects of L. casei extract on the growth of cancer cells and its possible synergy with anti-cancer drugs in cervical cancer cell lines were investigated. The cells were treated with L. casei extract alone, anti-cancer drugs alone [doxorubicin, paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and cisplatin], or L. casei extract plus anti-cancer drugs.

Results

L. casei extract had no significant effect on the growth rate of the two cell lines. Anti-cancer drugs alone induced growth inhibition, but there was no synergistic effect of L. casei extract on growth inhibition.

Conclusions

L. casei extract does not have a potent effect on the viability of cervical cancer cells in vitro. In addition, L. casei extract has no synergistic effect on the inhibition of growth of cancer cells in the presence of anti-cancer drugs.

Antitumor effect of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and its mechanism in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

We aimed to investigate the antitumor effect and mechanism of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (F1,6BP) in a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of F1,6BP alone or in combination with antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) or catalase (CAT), and cell proliferation assays were performed. Nuclear morphology was observed by fluorescence microscopy after Hoechst staining, and apoptosis was measured with flow cytometry. Changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in HepG2 cells were detected by 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) staining. A colorimetric assay was adopted to determine the percentage of oxidized glutathione in these cells. CAT and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) mRNA expression levels in HepG2 cells were measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. HepG2 cell proliferation was significantly inhibited by F1,6BP, accompanied by an increase in intracellular ROS levels and oxidized glutathione. Upregulated apoptosis and characteristic nuclear morphological changes were observed, and the expression of CAT and GSH-Px mRNA was increased after F1,6BP treatment. The antitumor effect of F1,6BP was significantly decreased after pretreatment with NAC and CAT in HepG2 cells. In conclusion, F1,6BP can induce the apoptosis of HepG2 cells. The mechanism involved may be associated with the generation of ROS, especially the production of H2O2.