Chitosan induces apoptosis via caspase-3 activation in bladder tumor cells.
Recently, because of its low toxicity and biological effects, chitosan has been widely used in the medical and pharmaceutical fields, e.g., for nasal or oral delivery of peptide or polar drug delivery. Here, we report a growth-inhibitory effect of chitosan on tumor cells. The growth inhibition was examined by WST-1 colorimetric assay and cell counting. We also observed DNA fragmentation, which is characteristic of apoptosis, and elevated caspase-3-like activity in chitosan-treated cancer cells. The findings suggest that chitosan may have potential value in cancer therapy.
Hasegawa
M
M
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-8558, Japan.
Yagi
K
K
Iwakawa
S
S
Hirai
M
M
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002686:Chitin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048271:Chitosan; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D009842:Oligopeptides; C120992:benzyloxycarbonyl aspartyl-glutamyl-valyl-aspartyl-chloromethyl ketone; D002686:Chitin; D048271:Chitosan; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases