Apoptosis in human hepatoma HepG2 cells induced by corn peptides and its anti-tumor efficacy in H22 tumor bearing mice.
This study was aimed at evaluating the anti-tumor mechanism of corn peptides (CPs). In vitro, the results showed that CPs significantly inhibited cell viability in both a dose- and a time-dependent manner. CPs treatment induced S cell-cycle arrest and caused apoptotic death in HepG2 cells. It was observed that CPs caused the increased in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and triggered the activation of Cleaved-caspase-3, p53 in HepG2 cells. In vivo, the results showed that CPs could not only inhibit the growth of the tumor, but also enhance the spleen index, as well as the level of IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α. Moreover, CPs could prolong the survival time in H22-bearing mice. This study demonstrated that CPs was an apoptosis inducer in HepG2 cells, that it could effectively inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo via enhancement of host immune system function, and that it could be a safe and effective anticancer, bioactive agent or functional food.
College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University & Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology, Ministry of Education, No.1 Shizishan Street of South Lake, Wuhan 430070, China.
Jiang-Tao
JT
Li
Jiu-Liang
JL
Zhang
Hui
H
He
Zhi-Li
ZL
Ma
Zhi-Kui
ZK
Nie
Zhen-Zhen
ZZ
Wang
Xiao-Gen
XG
Xu
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D056945:Hep G2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059807:S Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry*
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D053148:Caspase 3