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Coffee reduces KRAS expression in Caco-2 human colon carcinoma cells via regulation of miRNAs

Takuya Nakayama1, Megumi Funakoshi-Tago1, Hiroomi Tamura1

  • 1Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University, Tokyo 105-8512, Japan.

Oncology Letters
|July 12, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Moderate coffee consumption may lower colon cancer risk by inhibiting cancer cell growth. Coffee reduces KRAS gene expression, a key factor in colon carcinoma, through compounds developed during roasting.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Epidemiological studies suggest coffee consumption correlates with reduced cancer risk, especially colon cancer.
  • The molecular mechanisms underlying coffee's potential chemopreventive effects remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular impact of coffee on Caco-2 human colon carcinoma cells.
  • To identify the specific coffee components and processes contributing to its anti-cancer effects.

Main Methods:

  • Exposure of Caco-2 cells to varying concentrations of coffee.
  • Analysis of cell proliferation, viability, and KRAS gene expression.
  • Assessment of the effects of coffee constituents (caffeine, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid) and roasting duration.
  • MicroRNA (miR) expression profiling.

Main Results:

  • Low coffee concentrations (<5%) inhibited Caco-2 cell proliferation without affecting viability.
  • Coffee dose-dependently reduced KRAS proto-oncogene, GTPase (KRAS) gene expression.
  • The reduction in KRAS expression intensified with increased coffee bean roasting duration.
  • Coffee upregulated miR-30c and miR-96, both identified as KRAS gene targets.

Conclusions:

  • Coffee consumption may inhibit colon carcinoma cell proliferation by downregulating KRAS activity.
  • Roasting process generates active compounds in coffee responsible for KRAS modulation.
  • Upregulation of specific microRNAs (miR-30c, miR-96) by coffee contributes to KRAS inhibition.
Keywords:
Caco-2KRAScoffeecolon cancermiRNAroasting

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