title: Study of the Effects of Betaine and/or C-Phycocyanin on the Growth of Lung Cancer A549 Cells In Vitro and In Vivo.
abstract: We investigated the effects of betaine, C-phycocyanin (C-PC), and their combined use on the growth of A549 lung cancer both in vitro and in vivo. When cells were coincubated with betaine and C-PC, an up to 60% decrease in viability was observed which is significant compared to betaine (50%) or C-PC treatment alone (no decrease). Combined treatment reduced the stimulation of NF-κB expression by TNF-α and increased the amount of the proapoptotic p38 MAPK. Interestingly, combined treatment induced a cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase for ~60% of cells. In vivo studies were performed in pathogen-free male nude rats injected with A549 cells in their right flank. Their daily food was supplemented with either betaine, C-PC, both, or neither. Compared to the control group, tumour weights and volumes were significantly reduced in either betaine- or C-PC-treated groups and no additional decrease was obtained with the combined treatment. This data indicates that C-PC and betaine alone may efficiently inhibit tumour growth in rats. The synergistic activity of betaine and C-PC on A549 cells growth observed in vitro remains to be further confirmed in vivo. The reason behind the nature of their interaction is yet to be sought.
authors.affiliation: Unité Mixte de Recherche 1019, Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine Auvergne, Université d'Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Rea
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7782-7538
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bingula
authors.affiliation: Unité Mixte de Recherche 1019, Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine Auvergne, Université d'Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3044-5564
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dupuis
authors.affiliation: CNRS UPR4301, Université Orléans, 45100 Orléans, France.
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pichon
authors.affiliation: Greentech SA, Biopôle Clermont-Limagne, 63360 Saint-Beauzire, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9533-5409
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Berthon
authors.affiliation: Unité Mixte de Recherche 1019, Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine Auvergne, Université d'Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Centre Jean Perrin, Service de Chirurgie Thoracique, 58 rue Montalembert, 63011 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0337-6471
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filaire
authors.affiliation: CNRS UPR4301, Université Orléans, 45100 Orléans, France.
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pigeon
authors.affiliation: Unité Mixte de Recherche 1019, Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine Auvergne, Université d'Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; CIAMS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France; CIAMS, Université d'Orléans, 45067 Orléans, France.
authors.forename: Edith
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5127-7486
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Filaire