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Nrf2 antioxidant pathway and apoptosis induction and inhibition of NF-κB-mediated inflammatory response in human prostate cancer PC3 cells by Brassica oleracea var. acephala: An in vitro study

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Abstract

Background

Brassica oleracea var. acephala is a good source of health-promoting biologically active compounds like phenolics, vitamins, and glucosinolates.

Methods and results

This in vitro research was conducted to evaluate the apoptotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative properties of ethanolic extract of Brassica oleracea var. acephala (EEBO) in PC3 prostate cancer cells. The LC–MS/MS technique was applied to identify the biomolecules of EEBO. The MTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of EEBO on PC3 cells. Moreover, qRT-PCR was used to examine the expression levels of Nrf2, NQO1, HO-1, NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-6, BAX, and BCL-2 in PC3 cell line. MMP was predicted by Rhodamine 123 staining, and release of cytochrome c was detected by an ELISA kit. Further, apoptosis was quantified by DNA fragmentation assay. The Western blotting method was used to detect the protein expression levels, and The DPPH assay was applied to determine the antioxidant effect of EEBO. The formula and structure of 19 biomolecules were predicted by LC–MS/MS. EEBO exhibited scavenging activity for DPPH. The MTT test showed EEBO reduced the viability of PC3 cells. The mRNA and protein levels of NRF2 pathway genes and BAX were increased, but those of the NF-κB pathway genes and BCL-2 were decreased in the EEBO-treated cells. Moreover, EEBO led to the diminution of MMP and enhanced the release of cytochrome c and DNA fragmentation, which resulted in apoptosis.

Conclusions

Molecular changes due to the anticancer impact of EEBO on PC3 were involved in the induction of Nrf2 antioxidant pathway and apoptosis and inhibition of inflammation.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of current study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.

Funding

This original paper was based on the results of a research project and supported by a Grant (No. 980073) from Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. Author Houshang Nemati has received research support from Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences.”

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  1. Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

    Mehri Nazeri, Houshang Nemati & Mozafar Khazaei

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  1. Mehri Nazeri
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  2. Houshang Nemati
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Contributions

MN and HN: performed this experiment and designed the study. HN: wrote the main manuscript. MN: collected the data and analyzed the results. MN and MK: reviewed the data and prepared the pictures. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Houshang Nemati.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest in this paper.

Ethical approval

The research protocol was approved by the ethics committee of Kermanshah university of medical sciences on January 30, 2019 (Reference Number: 1397.875).

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Nazeri, M., Nemati, H. & Khazaei, M. Nrf2 antioxidant pathway and apoptosis induction and inhibition of NF-κB-mediated inflammatory response in human prostate cancer PC3 cells by Brassica oleracea var. acephala: An in vitro study. Mol Biol Rep 49, 7251–7261 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-022-07507-w

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