Abstract
Sulforaphane (SFN) has shown anti-cancer effects in cellular and animal studies but its effectiveness has been limited in human studies. Here, the effects of SFN were measured in both human hepatocytes (HHL5) and hepatoma (HepG2) cells. Results showed that SFN inhibited cell viability and induced DNA strand breaks at high doses (≥20 μM). It also activated the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), and increased intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels at 24 h. Pre-treatment with a low dose SFN (≤5 μM) protected against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cell damage. High doses of SFN were more toxic towards HHL5 compared to HepG2 cells; the difference is likely due to the disparity in the responses of Nrf2-driven enzymes and -GSH levels between the two cell lines. In addition, HepG2 cells hijacked the cytoprotective effect of SFN over a wider dose range (1.25-20 μM) compared to HHL5. Manipulation of levels of GSH and Nrf2 in HepG2 cells confirmed that both molecules mediate the protective effects of SFN against H2O2. The non-specific nature of SFN in the regulation of cell death and survival could present undesirable risks, i.e. be more toxic to normal cells, and cause chemo-resistance in tumor cells. These issues should be addressed in the context for cancer prevention and treatment before large scale clinical trials are undertaken.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 129-136 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Food and Chemical Toxicology |
| Volume | 128 |
| Early online date | 30 Mar 2019 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2019 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
The authors wish to thank Chris Washbourne for help in using the HPLC facilities, Dr Andrew Smith, Professor Michael Wormstone and Human Research Trust for setting up the Comet assay, Dr A. Patel, Medical Research Council (MRC) Virology Unit (Glasgow, UK) for supplied the HHL5 cells. We also thank Mr Jim Bacon for helpful discussion during the preparation of this manuscript.Keywords
- Antioxidants/administration & dosage
- Cell Line, Transformed
- Cell Survival/drug effects
- DNA/drug effects
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Glutathione/metabolism
- Hep G2 Cells
- Humans
- Hydrogen Peroxide/toxicity
- Isothiocyanates/administration & dosage
- NF-E2-Related Factor 2/genetics
- Oxidative Stress/drug effects
- RNA, Small Interfering/genetics
- Oxidative stress
- Hepatocyte
- Nrf2
- Chemopreventive
- Sulforaphane
- GSH
- TARGET
- APOPTOSIS
- ISOTHIOCYANATE
- PANCREATIC-CANCER
- CYCLE ARREST
- KEAP1-NRF2 PATHWAY
- NRF2
- OXIDATIVE STRESS
- BROCCOLI
- GLUTATHIONE
