Beta-cryptoxanthin suppresses the growth of immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells and non-small-cell lung cancer cells and up-regulates retinoic acid receptor beta expression.

Abstract

Recent findings of an inverse association between beta-cryptoxanthin and lung cancer risk in several observational epidemiologic studies suggest that beta-cryptoxanthin could potentially act as a chemopreventive agent against lung cancer. However, the biological activity of beta-cryptoxanthin and molecular mechanism(s) by which beta-cryptoxanthin affects lung tumourigenesis have not been studied. In the present study, we found that beta-cryptoxanthin inhibited the growth of A549 cells, a non-small-cell lung cancer cell line and BEAS-2B cells, an immortalized human bronchial epithelial cell line in a dose-dependent manner. beta-Cryptoxanthin suppressed the protein levels of cyclin D1 and cyclin E, up-regulated the cell cycle inhibitor p21, increased the number of lung cancer cells in the G1/G0 phase and decreased those in the S phase of the cell cycle. Consistent with inhibition of the lung cancer cell growth, beta-cryptoxanthin induced the mRNA levels of retinoic acid receptor beta (RARbeta) in BEAS-2B cells, although this effect was less pronounced in A549 cells. Furthermore, beta-cryptoxanthin transactivated RAR-mediated transcription activity of the retinoic acid response element. These findings suggest a mechanism of anti-proliferative action of beta-cryptoxanthin and indicate that beta-cryptoxanthin may be a promising chemopreventive agent against lung cancer.

• Authors: Fuzhi Lian, Kang-Quan Hu, Robert M Russell, Xiang-Dong Wang
• Journal: International journal of cancer (Int J Cancer) Vol. 119 Issue 9 Pg. 2084-9 (Nov 01 2006) ISSN: 0020-7136 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16841329 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Anticarcinogenic Agents
• Cryptoxanthins
• Receptors, Retinoic Acid
• Xanthophylls
• retinoic acid receptor beta
• beta Carotene
• Luciferases

Topics

• Anticarcinogenic Agents (pharmacology)
• Base Sequence
• Bronchi (cytology, drug effects)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (pathology)
• Cell Division (drug effects)
• Cryptoxanthins
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic (drug effects)
• Genes, Reporter
• Humans
• Luciferases (genetics)
• Lung Neoplasms (pathology)
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Receptors, Retinoic Acid (genetics)
• Respiratory Mucosa (cytology, drug effects)
• Up-Regulation (drug effects)
• Xanthophylls
• beta Carotene (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)