The Probiotic Bacteria Induce Apoptosis in Breast and Colon Cancer Cells: An Immunostimulatory Effect

Abstract

Background: Uncontrolled cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis are the main characteristics of cancer cells. Therefore, a substance with the capability to induce apoptosis in cancer cells could be known as an anti-cancer material. Probiotics are useful microorganisms that are crucial for the host's health. Materials and Methods: In the present study, we evaluated the synergic effect of probiotic bacteria on the cytotoxic potency of cancer cells and apoptosis genes expression. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum were cultured in MRS broth and then MTT test was performed on AGS, MCF-7, and peripheral mononuclear cells after treatment with the bacterial corpse. β-actin, Bcl2, Bax, TNF-α, and IFN-γ gene expression were evaluated in treated cell lines by real-time PCR method. Results: The result of cytotoxicity assay showed that bacterial corpse has higher cytotoxicity effects on cancer cells compared with normal cells. Results of gene expression demonstrated that Bcl2 and Bax gene expression significantly increased in cancer cells and TNF-α gene expression remarkably increased in normal cells as compared with the control group. Conclusion: Probiotic bacterial corpse can induce apoptosis in cancer cells. In normal cells, the immune system shifts responses toward Th1 and inflammatory cytokines.

An Update on the Effectiveness of Probiotics in the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer

“…Moreover, conjugated linoleic acid, a functional lipid produced by Lactobacillus plantarum (LPCLA), mediated apoptosis in breast cancer cells via the downregulation of the NFκB pathway [40]. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum showed increased cytotoxic effects against breast and colon cancer cell lines by upregulating Bax, IFN-γ, and TNF-α expression and downregulating Bcl2 expression [41]. Further L. acidophilus induces apoptosis by increasing the mRNA expression of survivin and decreasing the mRNA expression of SMAC [42].…”

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“…Downregulation of MAPK and NF-κB leads to apoptotic cell death [ 229 ]. For example, Lactobacillus plantarum (LPCLA) induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells by downregulating the NF-κB pathway, while other bacteria such as Lactobacillus crispatus and L. rhamnosus modulated the pro-oncogenic Wnt/β-catenin pathway in various cancer cell lines [ 231 , 232 ]. Another bacterial species, Propionibacterium , is known to induce apoptosis in colon cancer cells.…”

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“…Similarly, linoleic acid produced by probiotic L. plantarum initiate the apoptosis in breast cancer cells via downregulation of the NFκB pathway [259]. On the other hand, L. acidophilus and B. bifidum increased the cytotoxic activity against breast and colon cancer cells by upregulating IFN-γ and TNF-α expression, and downregulating Bcl2 expression [260]. Probiotic bacterium L. acidophilus induces apoptosis via increasing the mRNA expression of surviving [261].…”

“…acidophilus and B . bifidum increased the cytotoxic activity against breast and colon cancer cells by upregulating IFN-γ and TNF-α expression, and downregulating Bcl2 expression [ 260 ]. Probiotic bacterium L .…”