Allicin induces anti-human liver cancer cells through the p53 gene modulating apoptosis and autophagy.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent type of liver cancer globally and ranks first among the cancer-related mortalities in Taiwan. This study aims to understand the modes of cell death mechanism induced by allicin, a major phytochemical of crushed garlic, in human hepatoma cells. Our earlier study indicated that allicin induced autophagic cell death in human HCC Hep G2 (p53(wild type)) cells, whereas in the present study, allicin induced apoptotic cell death through caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways by reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction in human HCC Hep 3B (p53(mutation)) cells. To gain insight into the cell death mechanism in p53 knocked down Hep G2, we silenced the p53 gene using siRNA-mediated silencing. Allicin treatment induced apoptotic cell death in p53 knocked down Hep G2 cells similar to that of Hep 3B cells. These results suggest that allicin induced cell death in human hepatoma cells through either autophagy or apoptosis and might be a potential novel complementary gene therapeutic agent for the treatment of apoptosis-resistant cancer cells.
Institute of Food Science and Technology, ∥Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, ⊥National Center for Food Safety Education and Research, and #Center for Food and Biomolecules, National Taiwan University , Number 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
Yung-Lin
YL
Chu
Chi-Tang
CT
Ho
Jing-Gung
JG
Chung
Rajasekaran
R
Raghu
Yi-Chen
YC
Lo
Lee-Yan
LY
Sheen
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects*; D004220:Disulfides; D005737:Garlic / Q000737:chemistry*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013441:Sulfinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D004220:Disulfides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013441:Sulfinic Acids; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C006452:allicin