Anticancer activity of chicken cathelicidin peptides against different types of cancer
Abstract This study served as the pioneer in studying the anti-cancer role of chicken cathelicidin peptides. Chicken cathelicidins were used as anticancer agent against the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and human colon cancer cell line (HCT116). An in vivo investigation was also achieved to evaluate the role of chicken cathelicidin in Ehrlich ascites cell (EAC) suppression as a tumor model after subcutaneous implantation in mice. In addition, the mechanism of action of the interaction of cationic peptides with breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was also investigated. It was found during the study that exposure of cell lines to higher concentration of chicken cathelicidin for 72 h reduced cell lines growth rate by 90%-95%. These peptides demonstrated down-regulation of (cyclin A1 and cyclin D genes) which are essential for G1/S phase transient and S/G2 phase and consequently causes “prometaphase arrest” ultimately leading to death of MCF-7 cells. The study showed two- and three-times higher expression of the caspase-3, and − 7 genes respectively in MCF-7 cells treated with chicken peptides (especially cathelicidin-2 and − 3) relative to untreated cells which encouraged pro-apoptotic pathway, autophagy, and augmentation of the anti-proliferative activity. Our data showed that chicken ( CATH-1 ) enhance releasing of TNFα, INF-γ and upregulation of granzyme K in treated mice groups, in parallel, the tumor size and volume was reduced in the treated EAC-bearing groups after cathelicidin administration compared to untreated EAC-bearing group. Additionally, animals received high dose of cathelicidin-1 (40 µg/ml) displayed an apical survival rate compared to untreated carcinoma control and animals which received low dose of cathelicidin (10 and 20 µg/ml). Tumor of mice groups treated with chicken cathelicidin displayed high area of necrosis compared to untreated EAC-bearing mice. Based on histological analysis and immunohistochemical staining revealed that the tumor section in Ehrlich solid tumor exhibited a strong Bcl2 expression in untreated control compared to mice treated with 10 & 20 µg/ml of cathelicidin. Interestingly, low expression of Bcl2 were observed in mice taken 40 µg/ml of CATH-1. This study drive intention in treatment of cancer through the efficacy of anticancer efficacy of chicken cathelicidin peptides.