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Telomerase-associated apoptotic events by mushroom ganoderma lucidum on premalignant human urothelial cells

John W M Yuen1, Mayur Danny I Gohel, Doris Wai-Ting Au

  • 1Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Nutrition and Cancer
|April 30, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Ganoderma lucidum shows potential as a chemopreventive agent for bladder cancer. It inhibits human urothelial cancer cell growth by inducing apoptosis and suppressing telomerase activity.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Bladder cancer poses a significant health challenge.
  • Identifying effective chemopreventive agents is crucial for early intervention.
  • Ganoderma lucidum is a medicinal mushroom with potential therapeutic properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the chemopreventive effects of Ganoderma lucidum on human urothelial cancer cells (HUC-PC).
  • To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer activity of Ganoderma lucidum in vitro.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized an in vitro model of tumorigenic transformable human urothelial cells (HUC-PC).
  • Assessed cell viability, growth, apoptosis induction (Annexin-V/7-amino-actinomycin D staining), telomerase activity, and oxidative stress markers (hydrogen peroxide, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine).

Main Results:

  • Ganoderma lucidum significantly inhibited HUC-PC viability and growth.
  • Demonstrated induction of apoptosis and suppression of telomerase activity in HUC-PC.
  • Observed increased production of hydrogen peroxide and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in apoptotic cells, indicating oxidative stress.

Conclusions:

  • Ganoderma lucidum exhibits chemopreventive potential against bladder cancer by inhibiting premalignant urothelial cell growth.
  • Apoptosis induction and telomerase inhibition are key mechanisms of its anti-cancer effect.
  • Further research is warranted to understand the role of induced oxidative stress.

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