title: Capsaicin induced apoptosis and gene expression dysregulation of human acute lymphoblastic leukemia CCRF-CEM cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Capsaicin, an ingredient of red chili pepper, has possible tumorigenicity/genotoxicity properties. We aimed to determine the effects of capsaicin on the proliferation and gene expression profiles of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) CCRF-CEM cell line.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell viability and IC50 dose was determined by WST cytotoxicity assay. qRT-PCR, immunohistochemical staining and western blot methods were used to determine target genes' expression levels. Apoptosis was evaluated by measuring the caspase-3 activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Capsaicin inhibited the proliferation of CCRFCEM cells in a dose-dependent manner. Increased mRNA expressions of caspase gene family members, activated caspase-3 and decreased mRNA and protein expression of BCL-2 gene indicated apoptotic response to capsaicin. Moreover capsaicin treatment suppressed significantly the expression of the key cell signaling pathways of KRAS, AKT, GAB2, PTPN11, BRAF, INPP5D, MAPK7.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Capsaicin induces apoptosis in CCRF-CEM cells and this response is associated with downregulation of cell signaling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Ege University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Vildan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bozok Cetintas
authors.forename: Burcin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tezcanli Kaymaz
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aktug
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oltulu
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taskiran
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053148:Caspase 3; D002211:Capsaicin