Crocin Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Cell Proliferation by Regulating miR-143/145 and KRAS/RREB1 Pathways


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Abstract

Background: As a chemoprevention agent, crocin effectively decreases the risk of human cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the mechanism underlying the anti-cancer effects of crocin is not entirely explained. Considering that in this study, we investigated the crocin effect on miR-143/145 and related signaling pathways in CRC cells.

Methods: HCT-116 and HT-29 CRC cells were treated with different concentrations of crocin and then were subjected to MTT and qRT-PCR assays to investigate cell viability and miR-143/miR-145, KRAS, and RREB1 expression, respectively. Also, western blotting was performed to evaluate gene expression at protein levels.

Results: Our results showed that treating CRC cells with crocin decreases cell viability by upregulating miR-143/145 expression and reducing KRAS and RREB1 expression dose-dependently. These effects on gene expression in CRC cells were reversed by removing crocin from the media after 48 h. Furthermore, western blotting results exhibited that crocin significantly reduced the protein expression of KRAS and RREB1. Also, it was found that treatment of CRC cells by crocin led to the inactivation of AKT by decreasing its phosphorylation.

Conclusions:This study suggests that crocin may inhibit CRC cell proliferation by modulating KRAS, REEB1, and AKT signaling pathways mediated through miR-143/145 upregulation.

About the authors

Seyed Hosseini

Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Paria Nazifi

Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Mohammad Amini

Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Felor Zargari

Department of Medical Science, Marand Branch, Islamic Azad University

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Amir Yari

Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Behzad Baradaran

Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Soltanali Mahboob

Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Ahad Mokhtarzadeh

Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: info@benthamscience.net

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