Evaluation of the effect of Chrysin and Caffeic acid phenethyl ester on eIF۴E expression in AGS cell line

Introduction: The Ras/Akt/mTORC۱ signal transduction pathways play a critical role in regulating translation and converge on initiation factor eukaryotic translation initiation factor ۴E (eIF۴E) which is overexpressed in various malignancies. In the current study we aimed to assess the effect of chrysin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on eIF۴E expression level in human stomach cancer AGS cell line. Methods: AGS cells were treated with ۱۵, ۲۰, ۳۰ and ۴۰ μM concentration of chrysin and CAPE separately, then eIF۴E expression was evaluated in treated cells using real time-PCR method. Results: A significant decrease in eIF۴E expression in the cells following ۴۰ μM chrysin treatment was observed (p<۰.۰۵). There was a significant decrease in CAPE-treated cells in a dose dependent manner. Indeed the cells treated with ۳۰ and ۴۰ μM concentrations of CAPE, showed a significant decline in eIF۴E expression (p<۰.۰۵). Conclusion: Our results suggest that CAPE and chrysin may be useful as a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of gastric cancers with an elevated eIF۴E expression level.