title: beta-Glucan enhanced apoptosis in human colon cancer cells SNU-C4.
abstract: The apoptotic effect of bacteria-derived beta-glucan was investigated in human colon cancer cells SNU-C4 using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase-3 genes, and assay of caspase-3 enzyme activity. beta-Glucan of 10, 50, and 100 microg/mL decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner with typical apoptotic characteristics, such as morphological changes of chromatin condensation and apoptotic body formation from TUNEL assay. In addition, beta-glucan (100 microg/mL) decreased the expression of Bcl-2 by 0.6 times, whereas the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 were increased by 3.1 and 2.3 times, respectively, compared to untreated control group. Furthermore, the caspase-3 activity in the beta-glucan-treated group was significantly increased compared to those in control group (P < 0.05). Bacterial derived beta-glucan could be used as an effective compound inducing apoptosis in human colon cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Dongduk Women's University, 23-1 Wolgok-dong Sungbuk-gu, Seoul 136-714, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Ja
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Se-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Sun-Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chul
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Hong-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hye-Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Ki-Hyo
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Byung-Dae
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Chul-Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soon Ah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kang