Heterogeneous differentiation of highly proliferative embryonal carcinoma pcc4 cells induced by curcumin: An in vitro study
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-18-2021
Abstract
Curcumin, the yellow pigment derived from turmeric rhizomes, exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. We have previously reported in a study that curcumin could induce differentiation in embryonal carcinoma cell (EC). EC cells are the primary constituents of teratocarcinoma tumors, and hence differentiating them to a non-proliferative cell type may be useful in anticancer therapies. Here, we conducted a detailed study using various molecular approaches to characterize this differentiation at the cellular and molecular levels. The cells were treated with 20 mu M curcumin, which was the optimal concentration to produce the highest amount of differentiated cells. Changes in protein and RNA expression, membrane dynamics, and migration of these cells after treatment with curcumin were then studied in a time-dependent manner. The differentiated cells were morphologically distinct from the precursor cells, and gene expression profiles were altered in curcumin-treated cells. Curcumin promoted cell motility and cell adhesion. Curcumin also induced changes in membrane fluidity and the lateral mobility of lipids in the plasma membrane. The findings of this study suggest that curcumin might have therapeutic potential in differentiation therapy for the treatment of teratocarcinomas or germ cell tumors (GCTs) such as testicular and ovarian GCTs.
Keywords
Retinoic acid, MAPK pathway, Extraction, Proteins, Antigen
Divisions
pharmacy
Funders
Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education's HIR-MoHE grants [UM.C/625/1/HIR/MOHE/MED/17] [UM.C/625/1/HIR/MOHE/MED/33],Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR),Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) - India
Publication Title
Nutrition and Cancer
Volume
73
Issue
9
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Publisher Location
2-4 PARK SQUARE, MILTON PARK, ABINGDON OX14 4RN, OXON, ENGLAND