title: Extracellular polymeric substance fromAphanizomenon flos-aquaeinduces apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway in A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells.
abstract: Extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) is a substance secreted during algal growth, which has been found to have numerous health-promoting effects. In the present study, A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells were selected as target cells and cultivatedin vitroas an experimental model to investigate the anti-cancer effect of extracellular polymeric substances fromAphanizomenon flos-aquae(EPS-A) and the possible underlying mechanism. Apoptosis- and cell cycle-associated molecules as well as the mitochondrial membrane potential of the cells were quantified using flow cytometry (FCM). FCM showed that EPS-A induced cell cycle arrest, which led to a loss of mitochondrial function of the A431 cells and an increase in necrotic and late apoptotic cells. In order to evaluate the apoptosis and cell viability, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining was used, morphological changes were observed using fluorescence microscopy and typical apoptotic characteristics were observed. Following treatment with a high dose of EPS-A, transmission electron microscopy showed nuclear fragmentation, chromosome condensation, cell shrinkage and expansion of the endoplasmic reticulum; apoptotic bodies were also observed. In conclusion, EPS-A caused cell cycle arrest, stimulated cell apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway and exhibited important anti-cancer activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510282, P.R. China ; Department of Anesthesiology, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-Care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-Care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-Care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaolan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-Care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Youhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-Care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510282, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shiyuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
keywords: Aphanizomenon flos-aquae; anti-cancer; apoptosis; extracellular polymeric substances; human epidermoid carcinoma