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Updated: Jul 19, 2025
Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53
Published on: August 4, 2019
Inhibition of human cervical cancer development through p53-dependent pathways induced by the specified triple
Shuqian Hu1, Hui Xu1, Conghua Xie2
1College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Hubei Engineering Center of Natural Polymer-Based Medical Materials, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
Abstract:
This study demonstrates that the purified β-glucan (LNT) with a triple helix and relatively narrow molecular weight distribution, extracted and purified from artificially cultured Lentinus edodes, showed a significant cervical cancer inhibition with little cytotoxicity against normal cells in vitro and in vivo. From the in vitro data, the potential mechanism of anti-cervical cancer was preliminarily revealed as follows: LNT was firstly recognized by the human cervical cancer cell line of Hela and induced cell proliferation inhibition through p21 and apoptosis via a mitochondrion-dependent pathway by targeting the tumor suppressor of p53, indicated by an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), in a significant dosage-dependent manner. Meanwhile, LNT repressed tumor growth with an inhibition ratio of 61.2 % and induced tumor cell apoptosis through endogenous MDM2/p53/Bax/mitochondrion signal pathway by up-regulating the expression of p53, Bax, Cyt. c, caspase 9, and caspase 3, as well as down-regulating Bcl-2, MDM2, and PARP1 levels in Hela cells-transplanted BALB/c nude mice. This study provides a scientific basis for the clinical treatment of cervical cancer with LNT as a potential drug candidate characterized by the triple helix and specified molecular weight with a relatively narrow distribution.
Insights
Purified Lentinus edodes β-glucan (LNT) effectively inhibits cervical cancer cells with minimal harm to normal cells. LNT triggers apoptosis and inhibits proliferation by targeting the p53 pathway in vitro and in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Oncology
Background:
- Cervical cancer remains a significant global health challenge.
- Natural compounds are increasingly explored for anticancer therapies.
- Lentinus edodes β-glucan (LNT) is a polysaccharide with potential biological activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anti-cervical cancer effects of purified LNT.
- To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of LNT's anticancer activity.
- To evaluate LNT as a potential therapeutic agent for cervical cancer.
Main Methods:
- Extraction and purification of LNT from Lentinus edodes.
- In vitro studies using Hela cells to assess cytotoxicity, proliferation inhibition, and apoptosis.
- In vivo studies using Hela cells-transplanted BALB/c nude mice to evaluate tumor growth inhibition and apoptosis induction.
Main Results:
- LNT demonstrated significant cervical cancer inhibition with low cytotoxicity against normal cells.
- In vitro, LNT induced Hela cell proliferation inhibition (p21) and apoptosis via a mitochondrion-dependent pathway (ROS, Δψm loss).
- In vivo, LNT repressed tumor growth by 61.2% and induced apoptosis through the MDM2/p53/Bax/mitochondrion pathway.
Conclusions:
- Purified LNT exhibits potent anti-cervical cancer properties.
- LNT acts through p53-mediated apoptosis and proliferation inhibition.
- LNT represents a promising drug candidate for cervical cancer treatment.
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