In vitro anti-gastrointestinal cancer activity of Toxocara canis-derived peptide: Analyzing the expression level of factors related to cell proliferation and tumor growth

Abstract

Background: Recently, a hypothesis about the negative relationship between cancers and parasites has been proposed and investigated; some parasitic worms and their products can affect the cancer cell proliferation. Due to the potential anti-cancer effect of helminthic parasites, in the present study, the excretory–secretory protein of Toxocara canis (T. canis) parasite was used to evaluate the possible anti-cancer properties and their effect on gastrointestinal and liver cancer cell proliferation-related genes in laboratory conditions.Methods and materials: The selected synthesized peptide fraction from the T. canis excretory–secretory Troponin protein peptide (ES TPP) was exposed at 32, 64, 128, and 256 μg/ml concentrations to three gastrointestinal cancer cell lines AGS, HT-29, and Caco 2, as well as HDF cells as normal cell lines. We used the MTT assay to evaluate cellular changes and cell viability (CV). Variations in gene (Bcl-2, APAF1, ZEB1, VEGF, cyclin-D1, and caspase-3) expression were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR.Results: After 24 h of exposure to pept1ides and cell lines, a decrease in CV was observed at a concentration of 64 μg/ml and compared to the control group. Then, after 48 h, a significant decrease in the CV of Caco 2 cells was observed at a concentration of 32 μg/ml; in the other cancer cell lines, concentrations above 32 μg/ml were effective. The peptide was able to significantly alter the expression of the studied genes at a concentration of 100 μg/ml.Conclusion: Although the studied peptide at high concentrations could have a statistically significant effect on cancer cells, it is still far from the standard drug and can be optimized and promising in future studies.

Comprehensive control of toxocariasis in communities

“…It is imperative to expand the possibility of integrated control of this zoonotic geohelminth, due to its devastating impact on the development of stable urban communities. In addition to exploring other parasite-host interactions, where the proteome composition of TES antigens has been identified, and according to the findings of computer-based analyses at the (http:// crdd.osdd.net/raghava/cancerppd/index.php) site, part of the T. c a n i s -secreted Comprehensive Control of Toxocariasis in Communities DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1005054 protein with the 18 amino acids showed a high degree of similarity (≈93%) to other anticancer agents [78].…”

Using Helminths to Fight Cancer: An Innovative Approach

“…Bioactive molecules produced by helminths may directly target cancer cells or may be influenced by their microenvironment (Gutierrez-Millan et al, 2021). Various molecules, including glycoproteins and ESP, have anticancer properties (Osinaga, 2007;Bahadory et al, 2022). When ES proteins are secreted, apoptosis can be induced by helminth-derived proteins in animal-induced cancer cells, and angiogenesis and metastasis can be inhibited (Mu et al, 2021).…”

“…Based on the T. canis ESP, Bahadory et al (2022) assessed the potential anticancer activity of this parasite (Bahadory et al, 2022). The expression of cancer-related genes and tumor cell viability was studied in liver and gastrointestinal cancer cell lines treated with synthesized peptide components obtained from T. canis.…”