Effect of mesenchymal stem cells and a novel curcumin derivative on Notch1 signaling in hepatoma cell line

Biomed Res Int. 2013:2013:129629. doi: 10.1155/2013/129629. Epub 2013 Aug 19.

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and a novel curcumin derivative (NCD) on HepG2 cells (hepatoma cell line) and to investigate their effect on Notch1 signaling pathway target genes. HepG2 cells were divided into HepG2 control group, HepG2 cells treated with MSC conditioned medium (MSCs CM), HepG2 cells treated with a NCD, HepG2 cells treated with MSCs CM and NCD, and HepG2 cells treated with MSCs CM (CM of MSCs pretreated with a NCD). Expression of Notch1, Hes1, VEGF, and cyclin D1 was assessed by real-time, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in HepG2 cells. In addition, HepG2 proliferation assay was performed in all groups. Notch1 and its target genes (Hes1 and cyclin D1) were downregulated in all treated groups with more suppressive effect in the groups treated with both MSCs and NCD. Also, treated HepG2 cells showed significant decrease in cell proliferation rate. These data suggest that modulation of Notch1 signaling pathway by MSCs and/or NCD can be considered as a therapeutic target in HCC.

MeSH terms

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / biosynthesis
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Curcumin / metabolism*
  • Cyclin D1 / biosynthesis
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Homeodomain Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Receptor, Notch1 / biosynthesis
  • Receptor, Notch1 / genetics*
  • Receptor, Notch1 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Transcription Factor HES-1
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • NOTCH1 protein, human
  • Receptor, Notch1
  • Transcription Factor HES-1
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Cyclin D1
  • HES1 protein, human
  • Curcumin