Pterostilbene induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells: Biochemical, pathological, and molecular markers
Worldwide, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered the sixth most prevalent cancer and ranked third in causes leading to death. Pterostilbene (PTE), a dimethylated analog of resveratrol, is a phytochemical found in fruits such as blueberries and grapes, and is known for its anticancer effect. T...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319562X23001626 |
| _version_ | 1797755062689202176 |
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| author | Mahmoud I. Khalil Alaa F. Agamy Salma S. Elshewemi Ahmed S. Sultan Nabila E. Abdelmeguid |
| author_facet | Mahmoud I. Khalil Alaa F. Agamy Salma S. Elshewemi Ahmed S. Sultan Nabila E. Abdelmeguid |
| author_sort | Mahmoud I. Khalil |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Worldwide, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered the sixth most prevalent cancer and ranked third in causes leading to death. Pterostilbene (PTE), a dimethylated analog of resveratrol, is a phytochemical found in fruits such as blueberries and grapes, and is known for its anticancer effect. The current study intended to investigate the effect of PTE on HepG2 cells. Cell viability, colony-forming potential, lipid peroxidation, catalase enzyme (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and caspase 3 activities, histone release, and expression levels of mTOR, S6K1, p53, and STAT3 proteins were assessed in PTE-treated HepG2 cells. In addition, the cellular and ultrastructural alterations were evaluated by light and transmission electron microscopy. PTE induced a significant reduction in HepG2 viability in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 of PTE = 74 ± 6 μM), accompanied by a decrease in colony formation potential. PTE-treated cancer cells exhibited a decrease in lipid peroxidation and CAT activity, and an increase in histone release, caspase-3, and SOD activities. Ultrastructurally, PTE-treated cells exhibited notable cell shrinkage, reduced number of filopodia, increased vacuolization, apoptotic bodies, accumulation of lipid droplets, enlarged mitochondria, dilated endoplasmic reticulum, pyknotic nuclei, and cellular fragmentation. mTOR, S6K1, and STAT3 levels were downregulated, however p53 level was modulated in PTE-treated cells. The anticancer potential of PTE might be related to its ability to alter the ultrastructure morphology, reduce mitotic activity, and modulate some key protein required for cell proliferation, suggesting its potential to trigger cancer cells towards apoptosis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:42:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-28d33bf3450b40669d3cafcfc3e7fd78 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1319-562X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:42:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-28d33bf3450b40669d3cafcfc3e7fd782023-08-04T05:46:14ZengElsevierSaudi Journal of Biological Sciences1319-562X2023-08-01308103717Pterostilbene induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells: Biochemical, pathological, and molecular markersMahmoud I. Khalil0Alaa F. Agamy1Salma S. Elshewemi2Ahmed S. Sultan3Nabila E. Abdelmeguid4Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, Lebanon; Molecular Biology Unit, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt; Corresponding author at: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, Lebanon. Molecular Biology Unit, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt.Molecular Biology Unit, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, EgyptZoology Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, EgyptBiochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, EgyptZoology Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, EgyptWorldwide, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered the sixth most prevalent cancer and ranked third in causes leading to death. Pterostilbene (PTE), a dimethylated analog of resveratrol, is a phytochemical found in fruits such as blueberries and grapes, and is known for its anticancer effect. The current study intended to investigate the effect of PTE on HepG2 cells. Cell viability, colony-forming potential, lipid peroxidation, catalase enzyme (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and caspase 3 activities, histone release, and expression levels of mTOR, S6K1, p53, and STAT3 proteins were assessed in PTE-treated HepG2 cells. In addition, the cellular and ultrastructural alterations were evaluated by light and transmission electron microscopy. PTE induced a significant reduction in HepG2 viability in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 of PTE = 74 ± 6 μM), accompanied by a decrease in colony formation potential. PTE-treated cancer cells exhibited a decrease in lipid peroxidation and CAT activity, and an increase in histone release, caspase-3, and SOD activities. Ultrastructurally, PTE-treated cells exhibited notable cell shrinkage, reduced number of filopodia, increased vacuolization, apoptotic bodies, accumulation of lipid droplets, enlarged mitochondria, dilated endoplasmic reticulum, pyknotic nuclei, and cellular fragmentation. mTOR, S6K1, and STAT3 levels were downregulated, however p53 level was modulated in PTE-treated cells. The anticancer potential of PTE might be related to its ability to alter the ultrastructure morphology, reduce mitotic activity, and modulate some key protein required for cell proliferation, suggesting its potential to trigger cancer cells towards apoptosis.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319562X23001626PterostilbeneResveratrolHepG2ApoptosismTORP53 |
| spellingShingle | Mahmoud I. Khalil Alaa F. Agamy Salma S. Elshewemi Ahmed S. Sultan Nabila E. Abdelmeguid Pterostilbene induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells: Biochemical, pathological, and molecular markers Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences Pterostilbene Resveratrol HepG2 Apoptosis mTOR P53 |
| title | Pterostilbene induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells: Biochemical, pathological, and molecular markers |
| title_full | Pterostilbene induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells: Biochemical, pathological, and molecular markers |
| title_fullStr | Pterostilbene induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells: Biochemical, pathological, and molecular markers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pterostilbene induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells: Biochemical, pathological, and molecular markers |
| title_short | Pterostilbene induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells: Biochemical, pathological, and molecular markers |
| title_sort | pterostilbene induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells biochemical pathological and molecular markers |
| topic | Pterostilbene Resveratrol HepG2 Apoptosis mTOR P53 |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319562X23001626 |
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