Abstract
Aim: Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX2) plays a prominent role in carcinogenesis. This study addresses the effects of two nutraceutical compounds on the expression of COX2 and tumor-associated inflammation in human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16)-transgenic mice. Materials and Methods: Six-week-old FVB/n mice were supplemented with rutin or curcumin for 24 weeks: HPV16−/− no treatment, n=12; HPV16+/− no treatment, n=13; HPV16+/− rutin, n=12; HPV16+/− curcumin, n=13. HPV16-induced skin lesions and their inflammatory infiltrates were studied histologically. COX2 expression was assessed immunohistochemically. Results: Rutin reduced COX2 expression in the dermis (immunostaining score 7.83 versus 11.25 in untreated HPV16-transgenic mice) and epidermis (4.5 versus 10.0). Curcumin led to dermal and epidermal scores of 10.5 and 4.5. Both compounds reduced leukocytic infiltration, but neither prevented epidermal dysplasia. Conclusion: COX2 expression in HPV16-induced lesions may be modulated by nutraceuticals, reducing tumor-associated inflammation. However, this was not sufficient to block carcinogenesis, calling for additional studies focused on combination therapies.
Footnotes
Funding
This study was funded by Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro, by the Research Center of the Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto (CI-IPOP 37-2016), by project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006939 (Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy), project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006958 and UID/AGR/04033/2013, funded by FEDER funds through COMPETE2020 - Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização – and by national funds through the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT); Rui M. Gil da Costa was funded by grant number SFRH/BPD/85462/2012 from FCT, funded by the Portuguese Government and the Social European Fund.
- Received December 30, 2017.
- Revision received January 25, 2018.
- Accepted January 30, 2018.
- Copyright© 2018, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved