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Monoterpene (-)-citronellal affects hepatocarcinoma cell signaling via an olfactory receptor

Désirée Maßberg1, Annika Simon1, Dieter Häussinger2

  • 1Department of Cell Physiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany.

Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics
|December 17, 2014
PubMed

Insights

(-)-Citronellal, a plant terpene, activates olfactory receptor OR1A2 in liver cancer cells. This molecular pathway reduces cancer cell proliferation, offering a potential therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Terpenes, found in essential oils, are gaining clinical importance for their cancer-suppressing properties.
  • Their impact on cellular proliferation suggests potential in cancer prevention and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular effects of monoterpenes on the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Huh7.
  • To elucidate the mechanism of action of (-)-citronellal in liver cancer cells.

Main Methods:

  • Fluorometric calcium imaging to detect intracellular calcium signals.
  • mRNA and protein analysis to identify olfactory receptor expression.
  • Western blotting to assess MAPK pathway activation.

Main Results:

  • (-)-Citronellal induced transient calcium signals in Huh7 cells via a cAMP-dependent pathway.
  • The human olfactory receptor OR1A2 was identified and implicated in (-)-citronellal signaling.
  • OR1A2 activation led to p38 MAPK phosphorylation and reduced hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation.

Conclusions:

  • (-)-Citronellal exerts molecular effects on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells through OR1A2 activation.
  • This pathway influences cancer progression by reducing cell proliferation.
  • The identified olfactory receptor OR1A2 presents a potential therapeutic target for liver cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Keywords:
(−)-CitronellalCalciumHepatocellular carcinomaOlfactory receptorProliferationp38 MAPK

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