Capsaicin-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells through caspase-independent pathway

Abstract

Abstract. , a significant pungent ingredient in a variety of red peppers of the genus Capsicum, is a type of vanilloid. It has been shown to exert biological activities (anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic and chemopreventive) in many cancer cell lines. It was found that capsaicin induces dose-dependent growth inhibition of MCF-7 cells, which does not express caspase-3. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of capsaicin-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Treatment with capsaicin for 24 h resulted in dose-dependent apoptosis in these cells. After the addition of capsaicin, the levels of reactive oxygen species were reduced slightly in the earlier stage of treatment. Interestingly, an elevation of intracellular calcium ion concentration was detected in the MCF-7 cells. In time course and dosage studies, the mitochondrial membrane potential of MCF-7 cells decreased. However, the change was not significant. It is worth noting that the apoptosis-inducing factor translocated into the cytosol and nucleus from the mitochondria. Our results suggest that capsaicin induces cellular apoptosis through a caspase-independent pathway in MCF-7 cells, and that reactive oxygen species and intracellular calcium ion fluctuation has a minimal role in the process.

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“…The fragments were in oligonucleosome size, which could be approve of apoptotic induction by capsaicin treatment in HepG2 cells. Our results are in agreement with Cho et al [5] stated that MG63 human osteosarcoma cells were cultured for 24h with different concentrations of capsaicin, the cells exhibited the morphological features of apoptosis when treated with 150µM capsaicin for 24h. These morphological changes of the cells represent the apoptotic cell death [18].…”

“…In recent findings, capsaicin is seen to show anti-proliferative effects on various human cancer cell lines by apoptosis mediated cell death [4]. Diverse studies have shown that capsaicin has anti proliferative effect on several human cell lines derived from multiple myeloma, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer [5] and prostate cancer [6], etc. However, the molecular mecha¬nisms underlying capsaicin-induced apoptosis are cell type dependent: capsaicin induces apoptosis in sensory neurons by increasing calcium influx and does so by activating vanil¬loid receptors in some transformed cells [7].…”

Searching for Natural Aurora a Kinase Inhibitors from Peppers Using Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics

“…Chen et al studied the anticancer activity of capsaicin against breast cancer and concluded that the mechanism could be related to the down-regulation of the FBI-1-mediated NF-κB pathway [35]. The anticancer activity of capsaicin can also be related to the caspase-independent pathway [36]. Thus, the inhibition of Aurka can be one of the new possible anticancer mechanisms of the compounds obtained from peppers.…”

Ferroptosis in cancer: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic strategies

“…435 Expectedly, artesunate synergistizes with sorafenib to induce ferroptosis in HCC and non-Hodgkin lymphoma cells. 436,437 Consistently, dihydroartemisinin, the metabolite of artemisinin, 438 inhibits lung cancer cells by suppressing the PRIM2/SLC7A11 axis, 439 and enhances the cytotoxicity of gefitinib in LUAD cells, 440 sorafenib in HCC, 441 and cisplatin in PDAC. 442 Haloperidol, a specific antagonist of dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) extensively used for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, 443 exhibits inhibitory effects in cancers by inducing ferroptosis.…”