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Regulation of Nrf2 and Nrf2-related proteins by ganoderma lucidum ın hepatocellular carcinoma

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Abstract

Background

HCC is among the most common cancer. Ganoderma lucidum (G.lucidum) has been essential in preventing and treating cancer. The Nrf2 signaling cascade is a cell protective mechanism against further damage, such as cancer development. This signaling pathway upregulates the cytoprotective genes and is vital in eliminating xenobiotics and reactive oxygen. This study aimed to show the potential cytotoxic activity of G. lucidum aqueous extract in HCC.

Methods and results

MTT assay was used to detect cell viability. Nrf2-related proteins were measured by western blotting, and the flow cytometry method assayed cell population in different cycle phases. Cell viability was 49% and 47% following G. lucidum extract at 100 µg/ml at 24 and 48 h treatments, respectively. G. lucidum extract (aqueous, 100 or 50 µg/ml) treatments for 24, 48, or 72 h were able to significantly change the cytoplasmic/nuclear amount of Nrf2 and HO-1, NQO1 protein levels. Moreover, at both concentrations, arrest of the G0/G1 cell cycle was stimulated in HCC.

Conclusions

The activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathways seems to be among the mechanisms underlining the protective and therapeutic action of G. lucidum against HCC.

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Data availability

All data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

HCC:

Hepatocellular carcinoma

HBV:

Hepatitis B virus

HCV:

Hepatitis C virus

Keapl:

The Kelch-like ECH-associated protein

Nrf2:

NF-E2-related factor 2

ARE:

Antioxidant response element

NQO1:

NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1

HO1:

Heme oxygenase-1

GLP:

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides

IL:

Interleukin

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Acknowledgements

None.

Funding

This work was supported financially by Ege Üniversitesi.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey

    Ramin Aslaminabad, Ahmad Kashif Khan & Ali Mert Özgönül

  2. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

    Negin Rahimianshahreza

  3. Department of Genetics, Faculty of Basic Sciences, East Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Seyed Amirhossein Hosseini

  4. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey

    Güliz Armagan & Sibel Konyalıoğlu

  5. Faculty of Health Science, Sinop University, Sinop, Turkey

    Gülüzar Özbolat

  6. Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Al-Turath University College, Baghdad, Iraq

    Omar Saad Ahmed

  7. Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Amir Mardi Azar

  8. Senior Adult Oncology Department, Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Ali Adili

  9. Department of Oncology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Ali Adili

  10. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey

    Taner Dağcı

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  1. Ramin Aslaminabad
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Contributions

RA, GA, TD, and AKKHAN: conceptualization, methodology, writing—original draft preparation. NR, SAH, GÖ, OSA, and AMA: writing—review and editing, validation, visualization. AA: conceptualization, formal analysis. SK: methodology, ınvestigation. AMÖ: supervision.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Ramin Aslaminabad or Ali Mert Özgönül.

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There is no scientific or medical committee membership or membership, consultancy, expertise, working status, or shareholding in any firm, which may be a potential conflict of interest of authors and/or family members concerning this work.

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The Ethical Committee of Ege Üniversitesi approved this study before the study began.

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Aslaminabad, R., Rahimianshahreza, N., Hosseini, S.A. et al. Regulation of Nrf2 and Nrf2-related proteins by ganoderma lucidum ın hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Biol Rep 49, 9605–9612 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-022-07862-8

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