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The citrus methoxyflavone tangeretin affects human cell-cell interactions
Marc E Brack1, Tom Boterberg, Herman T Depypere
1Department of Radiotherapy, Nuclear Medicine and Experimental Cancerology, Ghent University Hospital, Gent, Belgium. brackemarc@hotmail.com
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|June 27, 2002
Summary
The citrus compound tangeretin enhances cell adhesion in breast cancer cells but reduces immune cell activity. High doses may interfere with tamoxifen cancer treatment by suppressing immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Oncology
Background:
- Tangeretin, a citrus methoxyflavone, influences cellular interactions.
- E-cadherin/catenin complex is crucial for cell adhesion and invasion.
- Interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) plays a role in immune cell function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of tangeretin on cell-cell interactions.
- To evaluate tangeretin's impact on breast cancer cell invasion.
- To determine tangeretin's influence on immune cell activity and its interaction with cancer therapy.
Main Methods:
- In vitro studies using human MCF-7/6 breast carcinoma cells.
- Assessment of E-cadherin/catenin complex function.
- Analysis of interleukin-2 receptor expression on lymphocytes and natural killer cells.
- In vivo experiments using nude mice bearing MCF-7/6 tumors.
Main Results:
- Tangeretin upregulated E-cadherin/catenin complex function, promoting cell adhesion and inhibiting invasion in vitro.
- Tangeretin downregulated IL-2R on T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells, decreasing their cytotoxic activity.
- High-dose oral tangeretin abrogated tamoxifen's tumor growth suppression in mice.
- Tangeretin alone did not demonstrate tumor-promoting effects in vivo.
Conclusions:
- Tangeretin exhibits dual effects on cell interactions: enhancing cell adhesion and suppressing immune cell cytotoxicity.
- High-dose tangeretin may counteract tamoxifen therapy by reducing anti-tumor immunity.
- Tangeretin's immunosuppressive properties suggest potential applications where immune suppression is beneficial.