Different apoptotic mechanisms are involved in the antiproliferative effects of 7beta-hydroxysitosterol and 7beta-hydroxycholesterol in human colon cancer cells.

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Date publication

février 2005

Auteurs

Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Dr MARCHIONI Eric


Tous les auteurs :
Roussi S, Winter A, Gosse F, Werner D, Zhang X, Marchioni E, Geoffroy P, Miesch M, Raul F

Résumé

Plant sterols are found in fruits and vegetables. Their cholesterol-lowering effect is well documented. Our study aimed at comparing antiproliferative effects of 7beta-hydroxysitosterol (7beta-OHsito) versus 7beta-hydroxycholesterol (7beta-OHchol) on the human colon cancer cell line Caco-2. When cells were exposed for 32 h to 60 microM 7beta-OHsito or to 30 microM 7beta-OHchol, both compounds caused 50% growth inhibition. Cells treated with 7beta-OHsito showed enhanced caspase-9 and -3 activities followed by DNA fragmentation. In contrast, 7beta-OHchol did not activate caspase-3 and activation of caspase-9 and DNA fragmentation were delayed. The treatment of cells with the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD.fmk retarded the 7beta-OHsito-induced apoptotic process but not that triggered by 7beta-OHchol. Our data suggest that the two compounds in spite of their structural similarities target different cellular pathways, which lead to cell death.

Référence

Cell Death Differ. 2005 Feb;12(2):128-35.