Jacalin Attenuates Colitis-Associated Colorectal Carcinogenesis by Inhibiting Tumor Cell Proliferation and Intestinal...

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Oncology
• Immunology

Background:

• Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global health concern.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients have an elevated CRC risk due to chronic inflammation.
• Jacalin, a jackfruit-derived lectin, shows anti-cancer properties but its role in colitis-associated cancer (CAC) was unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the therapeutic potential of jacalin in a colitis-associated cancer (CAC) mouse model.
• To evaluate jacalin's effects on tumor progression and inflammatory markers in CAC.

Main Methods:

• Colitis-associated cancer (CAC) was induced in mice using azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS).
• Mice were treated with varying doses of jacalin or a control (phosphate-buffered saline).
• Tumor volume, cell proliferation (Ki-67), and inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-1β, IL-23, IL-17) were assessed.

Main Results:

• Jacalin treatment significantly reduced tumor volume and mean tumor size.
• Jacalin decreased the proliferation of cancer cells and normal colonic crypt cells.
• Jacalin administration attenuated inflammation and reduced key pro-inflammatory cytokine levels.

Conclusions:

• Jacalin demonstrates significant anti-inflammatory and anti-tumoral effects in the AOM/DSS-induced CAC model.
• These findings highlight jacalin as a promising agent for suppressing CAC development.
• Jacalin's mechanism involves mitigating inflammation and inhibiting cancer cell proliferation.