Expression and activity of NADPH oxidases(NOX) and the ROS-mediated effects onγ-Glutamyltransferase (GGT) expression incancer cells
Year: 2010
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Cancer cells with the ability to metastasize have also an ability to adapt and survive in new surroundings. This is connected to their ability to alter the balance between and the level of oxidants and antioxidants within the cell. To understand how cancer cells do this, a panel of cancer cells were examined with respect to genes that can affect the oxidant production. These cells had been isolated from patients with epithelial carcinoma in skin and/or mouth. The results showed that cancer cells from different patients have different sets of the enzyme system NADPH oxidase (NOX) that regulates a substantial part of the oxidant production of the cells. All cell lines were found to express mRNA for two or more NOX core proteins and several of the regulatory subunits, thus indicating that all cell lines have the potential to produce oxidants by the NOX systems upon adequate activation. However, no consistent pattern of expression was identified among the cell lines derived from the same type of cancer. Using two cancer cell lines, it was shown that the NOX system affects the expression of the enzyme γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT). This enzyme is of importance for the ability of cancer cells to produce the antioxidant glutathione. The results showed that by regulating the level of oxidants, the NOX system as well as the mitochondria also changes the level of GGT. This shows that cancer cells not only increase the oxidant level as part of the ability to metastasize but also the level of antioxidants as part of their defence against the oxidants. The high level of oxidants is apparently part of the aggressive properties of cancer cells and can be an important element in new treatment regimes.
Author: Chandra Sekhar Ravuri
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W575381928