Synergistic effects of S-alkenylmercaptocysteine (CySSR) species derived from Allium tissue and selenium on inducing apoptosis in ER− breast cancer cells

Zhang, W., Tocmo, R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4850-977X and Parkin, K. L. (2020) Synergistic effects of S-alkenylmercaptocysteine (CySSR) species derived from Allium tissue and selenium on inducing apoptosis in ER− breast cancer cells. Journal of Functional Foods, 65. 103786. ISSN 1756-4646 doi: 10.1016/j.jff.2020.103786

Abstract/Summary

S-Allylmercaptocysteine (CySSA) from garlic and its onion analog S-1-propenylmercaptocysteine (CySSPe) show potential anti-cancer abilities. In this study, apoptosis induction by these two S-alk(en)lymercaptocysteine (CySSR) analogs in combination with Na2SeO3 (Se) was investigated in MDA-MD-231 breast cancer cells. CySSA and CySSPe alone did not affect cell viability, whereas CySSPe + Se and CySSA + Se showed dose-dependent reduction in cell viability. Synergistic effect was confirmed by isobologram analysis. Annexin-V staining and flow cytometric analysis revealed induction of apoptosis. Mechanistically, CySSR + Se upregulated GSK-3α/β and activated p53 to trigger apoptosis. Both CySSR + Se activated JNK pathway at an early stage, but only CySSPe + Se exhibited sustained JNK activation. Inhibition of the cystine/glutamate (xC-) antiporter by sulfasalazine attenuated the antiproliferative effects of CySSR + Se suggesting the involvement of xC- in CySSR + Se− induced apoptosis. This study indicates that the onion analogue CySSPe was similarly as effective as the major studied garlic analogue CySSA in apoptosis induction in ER− breast cancer cells.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/117215
Identification Number/DOI	10.1016/j.jff.2020.103786
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences > Food Microbial Sciences Research Group
Publisher	Elsevier
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