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Nisin induces apoptosis in cervical cancer cells via reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondrial membrane

Houri Sadri1, Mahmoud Aghaei2,3, Vajihe Akbari1,3

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Biochemistry and Cell Biology = Biochimie Et Biologie Cellulaire
|January 5, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Nisin, an antimicrobial peptide, shows potential as an anticancer agent by inducing cell death in cervical cancer cells. It selectively targets cancer cells, offering a promising therapeutic avenue with minimal toxicity to normal cells.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Nisin is a food-grade antimicrobial peptide with emerging anticancer properties.
  • Understanding nisin's mechanism against cancer is crucial for therapeutic development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate nisin's cytotoxicity and apoptotic effects on human cancer cell lines.
  • To investigate the role of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in nisin-induced apoptosis.

Main Methods:

  • Cytotoxicity assessed via MTT assay in HeLa, OVCAR-3, SK-OV-3, and HUVEC cell lines.
  • Apoptosis confirmed using Annexin-V/propidium iodide staining, western blotting, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) analysis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays.

Main Results:

  • Nisin exhibited concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against cancer cells (IC50: 11.5–23 µM) with lower toxicity to normal HUVECs.
  • Nisin treatment (12 µM) significantly increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio (4.9-fold), decreased ΔΨm (70%), and elevated ROS levels (1.7-fold) in cervical cancer cells.
  • These changes suggest nisin induces apoptosis via mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.

Conclusions:

  • Nisin demonstrates significant anticancer and apoptogenic activities against cervical cancer cells.
  • The mechanism involves inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, leading to apoptosis.
  • Nisin presents a potential therapeutic candidate for cervical cancer treatment.
Keywords:
apoptoseapoptosisdérivés réactifs de l’oxygènemitochondrial membrane potentialnisinnisinenéoplasmes du col de l’utérusnéoplasmes ovariensovarian neoplasmspotentiel de la membrane mitochondrialereactive oxygen speciesuterine cervical neoplasms

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