Organosulphur Compounds Induce Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest in Cervical Cancer Cells via Downregulation of HPV E6 and E7 Oncogenes

Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2021;21(3):393-405. doi: 10.2174/1871520620999200818154456.

Abstract

Background: The quest for strong, safe and cost-effective natural antiproliferative agents that could reduce cancer has been the focus now a days. In this regard, the organosulfur compounds from garlic (Allium sativum L.), like Diallyl Sulfide (DAS) and Diallyl Disulfide (DADS), have been shown to exhibit potent antiproliferative and anticancer properties in many studies. However, the potential of these compounds against viral oncoproteins in cervical cancer has not been fully elucidated yet.

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the antiproliferative and apoptotic properties of DADS and DAS in HPV16+ human cervical cancer Caski cell line.

Methods: Caski (cervical cancer cells) were cultured and followed by the treatment of various concentrations of organosulphur compounds (DADS and DAS), cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The apoptotic assay was performed by DAPI and Hoechst3342 staining. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) was estimated by DCFDA staining protocol. The distributions of cell cycle and apoptosis (FITC-Annexin V assay) were analyzed by flow cytometry. Finally, gene expression analysis was performed via quantitative real time PCR.

Results: Our results showed that DAS and DADS exerted a significant antiproliferative effect on Caski cells by reducing the cell viability and inducing a dose-related increment in intracellular ROS production along with apoptosis in Caski cells. DAS and DADS also induced cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase, which was supported by the downregulation of cyclin D1 and CDK4 and upregulation of CDK inhibitors p21WAF1/CIP1 and p27KIP1 in Caski cells. Additionally, DAS and DADS lead to the downregulation of viral oncogene E6 and E7 and restoration of p53 function.

Conclusion: Thus, this study confirms the efficacy of both the organosulfur compounds DADS and DAS against cervical cancer cells.

Keywords: Cervical cancer; HPV; ROS; apoptosis; diallyl disulfide; diallyl sulfide; garlic.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cyclin D1 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cyclin D1 / metabolism
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects*
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Sulfur Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Sulfur Compounds / chemistry
  • Sulfur Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • CCND1 protein, human
  • Sulfur Compounds
  • Cyclin D1
  • CDK4 protein, human
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4