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Modified apple polysaccharide prevents against tumorigenesis in a mouse model of colitis-associated colon cancer: role of galectin-3 and apoptosis in cancer prevention

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Abstract

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and preventable cancers. Regular consumption of apples is conducive to reduction in CRC risk.

Aim of the study

To evaluate effects of modified apple polysaccharide (MAP) on tumorigenesis in a mouse model of colitis-associated colon cancer.

Methods

One hundred male ICR mice were administered with 1, 2-dimethyl-hydrazine (DMH) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Forty mice were given no further treatment, the rest were fed basal diet blended with three different doses of MAP; 2.5, 5, and 10% (20 mice in each group).

Results

MAP significantly protected ICR mice against DMH/DSS-induced tumorigenesis. The incidence of tumor development was 90% (18/20) in the mice treated with DMH/DSS, but that was reduced to 25% (5/20), 15% (3/20), and 5% (1/20), respectively, in the mice treated with basal diets plus 2.5, 5, and 10% of MAP. Study of apoptosis of colonic epithelial cells revealed that MAP moderately increased apoptosis, suggesting that the anti-tumor potency of MAP was probably attributed to its ability to induce apoptosis. Western blot analysis demonstrated that carbohydrate-binding protein galectin-3 changed in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm during the process from colitis to colon cancer in the model. And MAP could inhibit the binding of galectin-3 to its ligand: this is, at least in part, the possible mechanism of MAP by enhancing apoptosis and preventing tumorigenesis.

Conclusions

These data suggest that MAP has a potential role in clinical prevention and treatment for colon cancer.

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Acknowledgments

This investigation was supported by the grant (No. 2010CB535002), from National Program on Key Basic Research Project of China (973 Program), and the grant (No. 2010ZDKG-47), from the Technology Gallery of Shaanxi Province.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, 710032, Xi’an, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China

    Yuhua Li, Li Liu, Juan Feng, Yang Sun, Hongquan Gan & Qibing Mei

  2. Faculty of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 710072, Xi’an, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China

    Yinbo Niu, Xianghe Kong & Qibing Mei

  3. Department of Pharmacy, No. 422 Hospital of PLA, 524005, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China

    Yuhua Li, Yongchun Chen & Xiaoyan Chen

  4. Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA

    Shousong Cao

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  1. Yuhua Li
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  2. Li Liu
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  3. Yinbo Niu
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  10. Shousong Cao
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Correspondence to Shousong Cao or Qibing Mei.

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Yuhua Li and Li Liu are Co-first authors.

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Li, Y., Liu, L., Niu, Y. et al. Modified apple polysaccharide prevents against tumorigenesis in a mouse model of colitis-associated colon cancer: role of galectin-3 and apoptosis in cancer prevention. Eur J Nutr 51, 107–117 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-011-0194-3

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