Effects of inositol hexaphosphate on proliferation of HT-29 human colon carcinoma cell line

Inositol Hexaphosphate Inhibits Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis of Colon Cancer Cells by Suppressing the AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway

AKT, a serine/threonine protein kinase and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays a critical role in the proliferation and resistance to apoptosis that are essential to the development and progression of colon cancer. Therefore, AKT/mTOR signaling pathway has been recognized as an attractive target for anticancer therapy. Inositol hexaphosphate (InsP6), a natural occurring phytochemical, has been shown to have both preventive and therapeutic effects against various cancers, however, its exact molecular mechanisms of action are not fully understood. The aim of the in vitro study was to investigate the anticancer activity of InsP6 on colon cancer with the focus on inhibiting the AKT1 kinase and p70S6K1 as mTOR effector, in relation to proliferation and apoptosis of cells. The colon cancer Caco-2 cells were cultured using standard techniques and exposed to InsP6 at different concentrations (1 mM, 2.5 mM and 5 mM). Cellular proliferative activity was monitored by 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation into cellular DNA. Flow cytometric analysis was performed for cell cycle progression and apoptosis studies. Real-time RT-qPCR was used to validate mRNA levels of CDNK1A, CDNK1B, CASP3, CASP9, AKT1 and S6K1 genes. The concentration of p21 protein as well as the activities of caspase 3, AKT1 and p70S6K1 were determined by the ELISA method. The results revealed that IP6 inhibited proliferation and stimulated apoptosis of colon cancer cells. This effect was mediated by an increase in the expression of genes encoding p21, p27, caspase 3, caspase 9 as well a decrease in transcription of AKT1 and S6K1. InsP6 suppressed phosphorylation of AKT1 and p70S6K1, downstream effector of mTOR. Based on these studies it may be concluded that InsP6 can reduce proliferation and induce apoptosis through inhibition of the AKT/mTOR pathway and mTOR effector followed by modulation of the expression and activity of several key components of these pathways in colon cancer cells.

Inositol Hexaphosphate and Inositol Inhibit Colorectal Cancer Metastasis to the Liver in BALB/c Mice

Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) and inositol (Ins), naturally occurring carbohydrates present in most mammals and plants, inhibit the growth of numerous cancers both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we first examined the anti-metastatic effects of IP6 and Ins using a liver metastasis model of colorectal cancer (CRC) in BALB/c mice. CT-26 cells were injected into the splenic capsule of 48 BALB/c mice. The mice were then randomly divided into four groups: IP6, Ins, IP6 + Ins and normal saline control (n = 12 per group). IP6 and/or Ins (80 mg/kg each, 0.2 mL/day) were injected into the gastrointestinal tracts of the mice on the second day after surgery. All mice were sacrificed after 20 days, and the tumor inhibition rates were determined. The results demonstrated that the tumor weights of liver metastases and the tumor inhibition rates were reduced in the experimental groups compared to the control group and that treatment with the combination of IP6 and Ins resulted in greater inhibition of tumor growth than treatment with either compound alone. These findings suggest that IP6 and Ins prevent the development and metastatic progression of colorectal cancer to the liver in mice by altering expression of the extracellular matrix proteins collagen IV, fibronectin and laminin; the adhesion factor receptor integrin-β1; the proteolytic enzyme matrix metalloproteinase 9; and the angiogenic factors vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and transforming growth factor beta in the tumor metastasis microenvironment. In conclusion, IP6 and Ins inhibited the development and metastatic progression of colorectal cancer to the liver in BALB/c mice, and the effect of their combined application was significantly greater than the effect of either compound alone. This evidence supports further testing of the combined application of IP6 and Ins for the prevention of colorectal cancer metastasis to the liver in clinical studies.

Cytotoxic effect of inositol hexaphosphate and its Ni(II) complex on human acute leukemia Jurkat T cells

Inositol hexaphosphate (InsP6) is present in cereals, legumes, nuts and seed oils and is biologically active against some tumor and cancer cells. Herein, this study aimed at evaluating the cellular toxicity, antiproliferative activity and effects on cell cycle progression of free InsP6 and InsP6-Ni(II) of leukemic T (Jurkat) and normal human cells. Treatments with InsP6 at concentrations between 1.0 and 4.0mM significantly decreased the viability of Jurkat cells, but showed no cytotoxic effect on normal human lymphocytes. Treatment with InsP6-Ni(II) complex at concentrations between 0.05 and 0.30 mM showed an anti-proliferative dose and a time-dependent effect, with significantly reduced cell viability of Jurkat cells but showed no cytotoxic effect on normal human lymphocytes as compared to the control. Ni(II) free ion was toxic to normal cells while InsP6-Ni(II) had no cytotoxic effect. The InsP6-Ni(II) complex potentiated (up to 10×) the antiproliferative effect of free InsP6 on Jurkat cells. The cytometric flow assay showed that InsP6 led to an accumulation of cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, accompanied by a decrease in the number of cells in S and G2/M phases, whereas InsP6-Ni(II) has led to an accumulation of cells in the S and G2/M phases. Our findings showed that InsP6-Ni(II) potentiates cytotoxic effects of InsP6 on Jurkat cells and may be a potential adjuvant in the treatment of cancer.

Cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by methyl 3,5-dicaffeoyl quinate in human colon cancer cells: Involvement of the PI3K/Akt and MAP kinase pathways

Methyl 3,5-dicaffeoyl quinate (MDQ) is a flavonoid glucoside found in several plants that scavenges 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals and peroxynitrite, and inhibits the formation of cholesteryl ester hydroperoxide during the copper ion-induced oxidation of blood plasma in rats. In this study, MDQ inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells in a dose-dependent manner as detected by 1-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-3,5-diphenylformazan (MTT), trypan blue exclusion, and flow cytometric assays. Western blot analysis showed that apoptosis was dependent on caspase-3 activity. PARP cleavage and the cytosolic release of cytochrome c from mitochondria increased significantly. In addition, these events were accompanied by a collapse in the mitochondrial membrane potential and a decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Furthermore, the MDQ-induced G(0)/G(1) arrest was correlated with an increase in p27 and a decrease in cyclin D1 and p53. MDQ also inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt and ERK; significantly reduced NF-κB; and in general displayed a significant anti-proliferative effect via a cell cycle arrest and apoptotic induction in HT-29 cells. These results suggest that MDQ has therapeutic potential against human colon carcinoma.

Non-isoflavone phytochemicals in soy and their health effects

Epidemiological and clinical studies have linked consumption of soy foods with low incidences of a number of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and osteoporosis. Over the past decades, enormous research efforts have been made to identify bioactive components in soy. Isoflavones and soy protein have been suggested as the major bioactive components in soy and have received considerable attention. However, there are hundreds of phytochemical components in soybeans and soy-based foods. In recent years, accumulating evidence has suggested that the isoflavones or soy proteins stripped of phytochemicals only reflect certain aspects of health effects associated with soy consumption. Other phytochemicals, either alone or in combination with isoflavones or soy protein, may be involved in the health effects of soy. This review attempts to summarize major non-isoflavone phytochemicals in soy, as well as their bioavailability and health effects. In addition, a brief discussion of components formed during food processing is also included.

p21/Cip1 and p27/Kip1 Are essential molecular targets of inositol hexaphosphate for its antitumor efficacy against prostate cancer

Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) causes G(1) arrest and increases cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21/Cip1 and p27/Kip1 protein levels in human prostate cancer (PCa) DU145 cells lacking functional p53. However, whether cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor I induction by IP6 plays any role in its antitumor efficacy is unknown. Herein, we observed that either p21 or p27 knockdown by small interfering RNA has no considerable effect on IP6-induced G(1) arrest, growth inhibition, and death in DU145 cells; however, the simultaneous knockdown of both p21 and p27 reversed the effects of IP6. To further confirm these findings both in vitro and in vivo, we generated DU145 cell variants with knockdown levels of p21 (DU-p21), p27 (DU-p27), or both (DU-p21+p27) via retroviral transduction of respective short hairpin RNAs. Knocking down p21 or p27 individually did not alter IP6-caused cell growth inhibition and G(1) arrest; however, their simultaneous ablation completely reversed the effects of IP6. In tumor xenograft studies, IP6 (2% w/v, in drinking water) caused a comparable reduction in tumor volume (40-46%) and tumor cell proliferation (26-28%) in DU-EV (control), DU-p21, and DU-p27 tumors but lost most of its effect in DU-p21+p27 tumors. IP6-caused apoptosis also occurred in a Cip/Kip-dependent manner because DU-p21+p27 cells were completely resistant to IP6-induced apoptosis both in cell culture and xenograft. Together, these results provide evidence, for the first time, of the critical role of p21 and p27 in mediating the anticancer efficacy of IP6, and suggest their redundant role in the antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of IP6 in p53-lacking human PCa cells, both in vitro and in vivo.

Natural products and colon cancer: current status and future prospects

Carcinogenesis is a multistage process consisting of initiation, promotion and progression phases. Thus, the multistage sequence of events has many phases for prevention and intervention. Chemoprevention, a novel approach for controlling cancer, involves the use of specific natural products or synthetic chemical agents to reverse, suppress or prevent premalignancy before the development of invasive cancer. Several natural products, such as, grains, nuts, cereals, spices, fruits, vegetables, beverages, medicinal plants and herbs and their various phytochemical constituents including, phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, alkaloids, nitrogen containing as well as organosulfur compounds confer protective effects against wide range of cancers including colon cancer. Since diet has an important role in the etiology of colon cancer, dietary chemoprevention received attention for colon cancer prevention. However, identification of an agent with chemopreventive potential requires in vitro studies, efficacy and toxicity studies in animal models before embarking on human clinical trials. A brief introduction about colon cancer and the role of some recent natural products in colon cancer chemoprevention with respect to multiple molecular mechanisms in various in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies are described in this review.

The need for a multi-level biochemical approach to defeat cancer that will also support the host

Cited research papers support the main hypothesis that selected publications supply sufficient information for a combined multi-level treatment strategy against cancer that will also strengthen the host. The three major elements of the proposal are: (A) metastasis being separate from tumor growth requires specific antimetastatic treatments. For this, manipulation of the composition of phospholipids will alter cellular charge characteristics which are instrumental in adhesion. (B) Formate metabolism is at the center of many activities that are controlling tumor growth. The rational and consequences of this are as follows. Supply of formate depends mainly on serine, and consumption on conversion to CO2 yielding needed NADPH. The remainder is used to complete IMP configuration with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (ZMP). At homeostasis residual ZMP activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to curb growth promoting phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3PK). Residual ZMP also activates the oxidation of choline to betaine supplying methyl groups needed for global methylation of DNA while increased oxidation of choline also alters cellular phospholipid composition (refer to metastasis). At low formate level, increased accumulated ZMP becomes pyrophosporylated to ZTP. AMPK activation shifts to PI3PK activity for insulin action restoring formate supplied by serine derived from glycolysis. Increased NADPH-generating glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase is diminishing NADP+ required for dehydrogenation of formate. This is restoring the formate balance while lowering ZMP levels to that of homeostasis. Evidence suggests that transformed cells exceed up-regulation of formate thus suppressing all ZMP accumulations resulting in limited AMPK activation, cessation of choline oxidation to betaine and loss of global methylation of DNA. This scenario appears to be tied to tumor survival, a state that could be altered by metabolic interventions using mild agents as described in the research reports cited. (C) Because of a preponderance of pyrimidines in cancer supporting UTP requiring immune evasion, exogenous IMP may offset this imbalance and thus hinder tumor anti-immune activities while strengthen host immune functions. For studies to confirm the proposal, the overall expected result is that a combined administration of all these agents cited here will outperform any single agent considered so far for anticancer treatment.

Phytochemicals for health, the role of pulses

Pulses are the seeds of legumes that are used for human consumption and include peas, beans, lentils, chickpeas, and fava beans. Pulses are an important source of macronutrients, containing almost twice the amount of protein compared to cereal grains. In addition to being a source of macronutrients and minerals, pulses also contain plant secondary metabolites that are increasingly being recognised for their potential benefits for human health. The best-studied legume is the soybean, traditionally regarded as an oilseed crop rather than a pulse. The potential health benefits of soy, particularly with respect to isoflavone content, have been the subject of much research and the focus of several reviews. By comparison, less is known about pulses. This review investigates the health potential of pulses, examining the bioactivity of pulse isoflavones, phytosterols, resistant starch, bioactive carbohydrates, alkaloids and saponins. The evidence for health properties is considered, as is the effect of processing and cooking on these potentially beneficial phytochemicals.