Study the effect of curcumin extract on beta-catenin expression in adenocarcinoma gastric cancer cells

Introduction & Aim: Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the world. Beta catenin plays a crucial role in epithelial cell-cell adhesion and in the maintenance of tissue architecture. Perturbation in the expression or function of those results in loss of intercellular adhesion, with possible consequent cell transformation and tumor progression. Reduction or loss of beta-catenin gene expression has seen in most gastric cancers. In this research we studied the effect of herbal curcumin extract on beta – catenin expression in AGS cell line. Methods: AGS cells cultured in DMEM with 10% FBS in CO2 incubator with 85% humidity. Treatment have done with concentrations of 800, 1200 and 2000 μg / ml of curcumin extract for 48 hours. Extraction of RNA and cDNA synthesis was performed using specific kits. The beta-catenin gene expression was measured by Real time PCR. Results: The results have shown that there was significant increase of beta- catenin gene in higher concentrations of curcumin extract. Conclusion: Beta-catenin participates in intercellular adhesion and is an integral part of the Wnt signaling pathway. The role of β-catenin in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer and its metastasis is largely unknown. The loss of β-catenin expression in metastatic gastric cancers may result from hypermethylation of the β-catenin promoter. In the other hand, herbal extract with anticancer effect like curcumin has effect on gene expressions like beta-catenin cancer cells.

Keywords:

Beta-catenin , AGS cells , Curcumin extract