Fungal substances as modulators of NF-kappaB activation pathway

Mol Biol Rep. 2007 Sep;34(3):145-54. doi: 10.1007/s11033-006-9027-5. Epub 2006 Nov 9.

Abstract

MCF7 breast cancer cell line, carrying a luciferase reporter gene under the control of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB)-responsive promoter, was established and used for the screening of fungal organic extracts for their ability to interfere with the NF-kappaB activation pathway. Twenty-eight crude fungal extracts, out of 242, were found to inhibit NF-kappaB reporter activity by more than 40%. Furthermore, positive extracts were used to evaluate their antiproliferative activity as well as their ability to influence the phosphorylation and degradation levels of IkappaBa. Fungal extracts prepared from Marasmius oreades and Cyathus striatus showed significant inhibitory effects on the NF-kappaB activation pathway. Taken together, our results support the notion of the presence of novel activities that might be utilized as cancer therapeutics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cytotoxins / pharmacology
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Fungal Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Fungi / chemistry
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • I-kappa B Proteins / metabolism
  • NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha
  • NF-kappa B / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Cytotoxins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • I-kappa B Proteins
  • NF-kappa B
  • NFKBIA protein, human
  • NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha