Capsaicin displays anti-proliferative activity against human small cell lung cancer in cell culture and nude mice models via the E2F pathway.
BACKGROUND
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by rapid progression and low survival rates. Therefore, novel therapeutic agents are urgently needed for this disease. Capsaicin, the active ingredient of chilli peppers, displays anti-proliferative activity in prostate and epidermoid cancer in vitro. However, the anti-proliferative activity of capsaicin has not been studied in human SCLCs. The present manuscript fills this void of knowledge and explores the anti-proliferative effect of capsaicin in SCLC in vitro and in vivo.


RESULTS
BrdU assays and PCNA ELISAs showed that capsaicin displays robust anti-proliferative activity in four human SCLC cell lines. Furthermore, capsaicin potently suppressed the growth of H69 human SCLC tumors in vivo as ascertained by CAM assays and nude mice models. The second part of our study attempted to provide insight into molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-proliferative activity of capsaicin. We found that the anti-proliferative activity of capsaicin is correlated with a decrease in the expression of E2F-responsive proliferative genes like cyclin E, thymidylate synthase, cdc25A and cdc6, both at mRNA and protein levels. The transcription factor E2F4 mediated the anti-proliferative activity of capsaicin. Ablation of E2F4 levels by siRNA methodology suppressed capsaicin-induced G1 arrest. ChIP assays demonstrated that capsaicin caused the recruitment of E2F4 and p130 on E2F-responsive proliferative promoters, thereby inhibiting cell proliferation.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the anti-proliferative effects of capsaicin could be useful in the therapy of human SCLCs.
Brown
Kathleen C
KC
Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Toxicology, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, United States of America.
Witte
Ted R
TR
Hardman
W Elaine
WE
Luo
Haitao
H
Chen
Yi C
YC
Carpenter
A Betts
AB
Lau
Jamie K
JK
Dasgupta
Piyali
P
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050684:E2F Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D050704:E2F4 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D020218:Response Elements / Q000235:genetics; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D050684:E2F Transcription Factors; D050704:E2F4 Transcription Factor; D002211:Capsaicin