title: Psyllium extracts decreased neoplastic phenotypes induced by the Ha-Ras oncogene transfected into a rat liver oval cell line.
abstract: Inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) by tumor promoters and oncogenes has been implicated in the removal of initiated cells from the suppression of growth by neighboring cells in the tumor promoting step of carcinogenesis. The GJIC of WB-Ha-ras cell line is GJIC-deficient and they are capable of anchorage independent growth (AIG). The ethanol extract of psyllium increased GJIC 1.65-times and decreased AIG in both number and size of colonies in WB-Ha-ras cells. Histochemical staining of the gap junction protein, connexin43, showed that psyllium restored gap junction plaques on the plasma membrane of the WB-Ha-ras cells. In conclusion, the ethanol extract of psyllium reversed two tumor cell phenotypes, namely reduced GJIC and AIG, induced by the Ha-ras oncogene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, National Food Safety and Toxicology Bldg Center, Michigan State University, 243 Food Safety and Toxicology, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Trosko
authors.forename: Chia-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Brad L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Upham
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002450:Cell Communication; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism; D017629:Gap Junctions; D011905:Genes, ras; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010641:Phenotype; D011620:Psyllium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D014162:Transfection; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D018031:Connexin 43; D011620:Psyllium; D018631:ras Proteins