Modulation of transcriptional activity by antioxidant carotenoids.
It is widely accepted that diet changes are a powerful means to prevent cancer. The possible involvement of transcriptional activity in the anticancer activity of carotenoids will be the focus of this review. Carotenoids function as potent antioxidants, and this is clearly a major mechanism of their action. In addition carotenoids action involves interference in several pathways related to cancer cell proliferation and includes changes in the expression of many proteins participating in these processes such as connexins, phase II enzymes, cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases and their inhibitors. These changes in protein expression suggest that the initial effect involves modulation of transcription by ligand-activated nuclear receptors or by other transcription factors. It is feasible to suggest that carotenoids and their oxidized derivatives interact with a network of transcription systems that are activated by different ligands at low affinity and specificity and that this activation leads to the synergistic inhibition of cell growth.
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka Medical Center of Kupat Holim, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel. yoav@bgumail.ac.il
Yoav
Y
Sharoni
Riad
R
Agbaria
Hadar
H
Amir
Anat
A
Ben-Dor
Irene
I
Bobilev
Noga
N
Doubi
Yudit
Y
Giat
Keren
K
Hirsh
Gaby
G
Izumchenko
Marina
M
Khanin
Elena
E
Kirilov
Rita
R
Krimer
Amit
A
Nahum
Michael
M
Steiner
Yossi
Y
Walfisch
Shlomo
S
Walfisch
Gabi
G
Zango
Michael
M
Danilenko
Joseph
J
Levy
D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002338:Carotenoids