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Xylitol induces cell death in lung cancer A549 cells by autophagy

Biotechnology Letters volume 37, pages 983–990 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Xylitol is a widely used anti-caries agent that has anti-inflammatory effects. We have evaluated the potential of xylitol in cancer treatment. It’s effects on cell proliferation and cytotoxicity were measured by MTT assay and LDH assay. Cell morphology and autophagy were examined by immunostaining and immunoblotting. Xylitol inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in these cancer cells: A549, Caki, NCI-H23, HCT-15, HL-60, K562, and SK MEL-2. The IC50 of xylitol in human gingival fibroblast cells was higher than in cancer cells, indicating that it is more specific for cancer cells. Moreover, xylitol induced autophagy in A549 cells that was inhibited by 3-methyladenine, an autophagy inhibitor. These results indicate that xylitol has potential in therapy against lung cancer by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing autophagy of A549 cells.

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Acknowledgments

A National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Grant funded by the Korea government (MEST; No. 2012R1A2A2A01015470) supported this research.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral Microbiology, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan-si, 626-870, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea

    Eunjoo Park, Mi Hee Park, Hee Sam Na & Jin Chung

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  1. Eunjoo Park
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  2. Mi Hee Park
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  4. Jin Chung
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Correspondence to Jin Chung.

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Park, E., Park, M.H., Na, H.S. et al. Xylitol induces cell death in lung cancer A549 cells by autophagy. Biotechnol Lett 37, 983–990 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-014-1757-1

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Keywords

  • Anti-cancer agent
  • Autophagy
  • Cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Xylitol