title: Zebrafish embryo proteins induce apoptosis in human colon cancer cells (Caco2).
abstract: Previous studies have shown that proteins extracted from Zebrafish embryo share some cytostatic characteristics in cancer cells. Our study was conducted to ascertain the biological properties of this protein network. Cancer cell growth and apoptosis were studied in Caco2 cells treated with embryonic extracts. Cell proliferation was significantly inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Cell-cycle analysis in treated cells revealed a marked accumulation in the G(2)/M phase preceding induction of apoptosis. Embryo proteins induced a significant reduction in FLIP levels, and increased caspase-3 and caspase-8 activity as well as the apoptotic rate. Increased phosphorylated pRb values were obtained in treated Caco2 cells: the modified balance in pRb phosphorylation was associated with an increase in E2F1 values and c-Myc over-expression. Our data support previous reports of an apoptotic enhancing effect displayed by embryo extracts, mainly through the pRb/E2F1 apoptotic pathway, which thus suggests that Zebrafish embryo proteins have complex anti-cancer properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Pietro Valdoni, Università La Sapienza, Roma, Rome.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cucina
authors.forename: Pier-Mario
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Biava
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Anselmi
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coluccia
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: di Clemente
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miccheli
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frati
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gulino
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bizzarri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein / Q000502:physiology; D018938:Caco-2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor / Q000502:physiology; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism*; D016195:G2 Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D016259:Genes, myc / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000502:physiology; D014162:Transfection; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor; C493753:E2F1 protein, human; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins