Enhancement of apoptosis in Caco-2, Hep-G2, and HT29 cancer cell lines following exposure to Toxoplasma gondii peptides

Firooz Shahrivar; Javid Sadraei; Majid Pirestani; Ehsan Ahmadpour

doi:10.33393/dti.2024.3177

Authors

Firooz Shahrivar Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran - Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6941-6360
Javid Sadraei Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran - Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3312-765X
Majid Pirestani Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran - Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0046-4772
Ehsan Ahmadpour Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz - Iran and Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz - Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1202-6147

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33393/dti.2024.3177

Keywords:

Anticancer, Neoplasm, Parasite, Peptides, Real-time PCR, Toxoplasmosis

Abstract

Objective: Cancer or neoplasm is a cosmopolitan catastrophe that results in more than 20 million new cases and 10 million deaths every year. Some factors lead to carcinogenesis like infectious diseases. Parasites like Toxoplasma gondii, by its components, could modulate the cancer system by inducing apoptosis. The objective of this investigation is to assess the potential of peptides derived from T. gondii in combating cancer by examining their effects on Caco-2, Hep-G2, and HT29 cell lines.

Materials and methods: Candidate peptide by its similarity to anticancer compounds was predicted through the computer-based analysis/platform. The impact of the peptide on cell viability, cell proliferation, and gene expression was evaluated through the utilization of MTT assay, flow cytometry, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodologies.

Results: The cell viability rate exhibited a significant decrease (p < 0.001) across all cell lines when exposed to a concentration of ≤160 μg. Within the 48-hour timeframe, the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) for HT29 and Hep-G2 cell lines was determined to be 107.2 and 140.6 μg/mL, respectively. Notably, a marked decrease in the expression levels of Bcl2 and APAF1 genes was observed in both the Hep-G2 and HT29 cell lines.

Conclusion: These findings indicate that the T. gondii peptide affected cancer cell mortality and led to changes in the expression of genes associated with apoptosis.

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