Gut Liver.  2016 May;10(3):369-374. 10.5009/gnl15208.

Astaxanthin Inhibits Proliferation of Human Gastric Cancer Cell Lines by Interrupting Cell Cycle Progression

• Kim JH
• Park JJ
• Lee BJ
• Joo MK
• Chun HJ
• Lee SW
• Bak YT

• KMID: 2411963
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5009/gnl15208

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Astaxanthin is a carotenoid pigment that has antioxidant, antitumoral, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this in vitro study, we investigated the mechanism of anticancer effects of astaxanthin in gastric carcinoma cell lines.
METHODS
The human gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines AGS, KATO-III, MKN-45, and SNU-1 were treated with various concentrations of astaxanthin. A cell viability test, cell cycle analysis, and immunoblotting were performed.
RESULTS
The viability of each cancer cell line was suppressed by astaxanthin in a dose-dependent manner with significantly decreased proliferation in KATO-III and SNU-1 cells. Astaxanthin increased the number of cells in the G0/G1 phase but reduced the proportion of S phase KATO-III and SNU-1 cells. Phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was decreased in an inverse dose-dependent correlation with astaxanthin concentration, and the expression of p27(kip-1) increased the KATO-III and SNU-1 cell lines in an astaxanthin dose-dependent manner.
CONCLUSIONS
Astaxanthin inhibits proliferation by interrupting cell cycle progression in KATO-III and SNU-1 gastric cancer cells. This may be caused by the inhibition of the phosphorylation of ERK and the enhanced expression of p27(kip-1).

Keyword

Astaxanthin; Human gastric adenocarcinoma; Proliferation; Extracellular signal-regulated kinase; p27(kip-1)

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma/*drug therapy/pathology
Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology
Cell Cycle/*drug effects
Cell Line, Tumor
Cell Proliferation
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Fibrinolytic Agents/*pharmacology
Humans
Stomach Neoplasms/*drug therapy/pathology
Xanthophylls/pharmacology
Antineoplastic Agents
Fibrinolytic Agents
Xanthophylls