title: Curcumin-mediated decrease in the expression of nucleolar organizer regions in cervical cancer (HeLa) cells.
abstract: Curcumin, the major yellow-orange pigment of turmeric derived from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, is a highly pleiotropic molecule with the potential to modulate inflammation, oxidative stress, cell survival, cell secretion, homeostasis and proliferation. Curcumin, at relatively high concentrations, was repeatedly reported to be a potent inducer of apoptosis in cancer cells and thus considered a promising anticancer agent. In the present paper, the effects of low concentrations of curcumin on human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells were studied. We found curcumin-mediated decrease in the cell number and viability, and increase in apoptotic events and superoxide level. In contrast to previously shown curcumin cytotoxicity toward different cervical cancer lines, we observed toxic effects when even as low as 1 μM concentration of curcumin was used. Curcumin was not genotoxic to HeLa cells. Because argyrophilic nucleolar protein (AgNOR protein) expression is elevated in malignant cells compared to normal cells reflecting the rapidity of cancer cell proliferation, we evaluated curcumin-associated changes in size (area) and number of silver deposits. We showed curcumin-induced decrease in AgNOR protein pools, which may be mediated by global DNA hypermethylation observed after low concentration curcumin treatment. In summary, we have shown for the first time that curcumin at low micromolar range may be effective against HeLa cells, which may have implications for curcumin-based treatment of cervical cancer in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Rzeszow, Poland; Centre of Applied Biotechnology and Basic Sciences, University of Rzeszow, Kolbuszowa, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lewinska
authors.affiliation: Centre of Applied Biotechnology and Basic Sciences, University of Rzeszow, Kolbuszowa, Poland; Department of Genetics, University of Rzeszow, Rejtana 16C, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland.
authors.forename: Jagoda
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adamczyk
authors.affiliation: Centre of Applied Biotechnology and Basic Sciences, University of Rzeszow, Kolbuszowa, Poland; Department of Genetics, University of Rzeszow, Rejtana 16C, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pajak
authors.affiliation: Centre of Applied Biotechnology and Basic Sciences, University of Rzeszow, Kolbuszowa, Poland; Department of Genetics, University of Rzeszow, Rejtana 16C, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland.
authors.forename: Sylwia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stoklosa
authors.affiliation: Centre of Applied Biotechnology and Basic Sciences, University of Rzeszow, Kolbuszowa, Poland; Department of Genetics, University of Rzeszow, Rejtana 16C, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kubis
authors.affiliation: Centre of Applied Biotechnology and Basic Sciences, University of Rzeszow, Kolbuszowa, Poland; Department of Genetics, University of Rzeszow, Rejtana 16C, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pastuszek
authors.affiliation: Centre of Applied Biotechnology and Basic Sciences, University of Rzeszow, Kolbuszowa, Poland; Department of Genetics, University of Rzeszow, Rejtana 16C, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Slota
authors.affiliation: Centre of Applied Biotechnology and Basic Sciences, University of Rzeszow, Kolbuszowa, Poland; Department of Genetics, University of Rzeszow, Rejtana 16C, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland. Electronic address: mawnuk@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wnuk
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: AgNORs; Curcumin; DNA methylation; HeLa cells