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Polysaccharides from Phellinus linteus inhibit cell growth and invasion and induce apoptosis in HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

  • Section Cellular and Molecular Biology
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Abstract

It has been demonstrated that the medicinal mushroom Phellinus linteus (PL), which consists mainly of polysaccharides, possesses antitumor and immunomodulatory properties in vivo and in vitro. The mechanism, however, by which PL inhibits growth and invasive behavior of HepG2 cells remains poorly understood. Here we demonstrated that PL inhibited proliferation and colony formation of HepG2 and that the growth inhibition of HepG2 cells was mediated by S-phase cell cycle arrest. PL also markedly inhibited cancer cell adhesion and invasion of the extracellular matrix. Additionally, we demonstrated that PL-induced apoptosis was associated with a reduction in B-cell lymphoma 2 levels and an increase in the release of cytochrome c. These results suggest that PL exerts a direct antitumor effect by initiating apoptosis and cell cycle blockade in HepG2 cells.

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Abbreviations

Bcl-2:

B-cell lymphoma 2

ECM:

gel from engelbreth-holm-swarm mouse sarcoma

HCC:

hepatocellular carcinoma

PBS:

phosphate buffered saline

PI:

propidium iodide

PL:

Phellinus linteus

TEM:

transmission electron microscopy

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Life Sciences, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, People’s Republic of China

    Guibin Wang, Lulu Dong, Yuanyuan Zhang & Min Zhao

  2. Harbin Veterinary Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150001, People’s Republic of China

    Yuanyuan Ji & Wenhua Xiang

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  1. Guibin Wang
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  2. Lulu Dong
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  3. Yuanyuan Zhang
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  4. Yuanyuan Ji
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  5. Wenhua Xiang
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  6. Min Zhao
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Correspondence to Guibin Wang.

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Wang, G., Dong, L., Zhang, Y. et al. Polysaccharides from Phellinus linteus inhibit cell growth and invasion and induce apoptosis in HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Biologia 67, 247–254 (2012). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-011-0160-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-011-0160-9

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