β‐Carotene Induces Apoptosis in Human Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines via the Cav‐1/AKT/NF‐κB Signaling Pathway |
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| Authors: | Xiangzhan Zhu Yanting Zhang Qinghua Li Lu Yang Nannan Zhang Shanshan Ma Kun Zhang Jishi Song Fangxia Guan |
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| Affiliation: | 1. School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China;2. The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China |
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| Abstract: | β‐carotene, a type of terpenoid, has many metabolic and physiological functions. In particular, β‐carotene has an antitumor effect. However, the efficacy of β‐carotene against esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. In our study, β‐carotene inhibited the growth of ESCC cells and downregulated expression of the Caveolin‐1 (Cav‐1) protein. Cav‐1 protein was expressed only in ESCC cells, not in Het‐1A cells. Moreover, β‐carotene triggered apoptosis, induced cell cycle G0?G1 phase arrest, and inhibited cell migration. To explore the mechanism involved in these processes, we further examined the effect of β‐carotene on the Cav‐1‐mediated AKT/NF‐κB pathway. The results showed that the level of AKT and NF‐κB phosphorylation was dramatically inhibited, which led to an increase in the Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio. Correspondingly, the activity of Caspase‐3 was also enhanced. These data suggest that β‐carotene has an antiproliferative role in ESCC cells and may be a promising chemotherapeutic agent for use against ESCC cells. |
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| Keywords: | β ‐Carotene Caveolin‐1 Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Proliferation Apoptosis AKT/NF‐κ B |
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