Effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on syndecan-1 expression and its chemoprotective effect in benzo(α)pyrene-induced lung cancer mice model

Abstract

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), an active metabolite of retinal, has been shown to exert anti-cancer activities in a number of cancer cells and tissues. Syndecan-1 is a proteoglycan, mediate cell–cell adhesion and prevent invasion in epithelial cells. The aim of the present study was to examine the level of syndecan-1 expression and the chemopreventive effect of ATRA during lung cancer development in BALB/c mice. Syndecan-1 expression was examined by immunohistochemistry using mouse monoclonal anti-human syndecan-1 antibody. In this study, benzo(α)pyrene [B(α)P] was used to induce lung cancer. The results indicated that ATRA has anti-cancer effect against B(α)P-induced lung tumor development as induced by number of tumor nodules and histopathologic report. The loss of syndecan-1 expression in the epithelial cell membrane is associated with tumor cell growth and invasiveness. Our study for syndecan-1 indicated a chemoprotective effect of ATRA against changes in lung epithelial cell membrane syndecan-1 expression in B(α)P-induced lung cancer model. Therefore ATRA could serve as effective chemotherapeutic agent against cancer invasion/metastasis, at least in the lungs.

Keywords::

• Anti-cancer agent
• lung cancer
• tumor nodule
• histopathology
• immunohistochemistry

Acknowledgement

The authors acknowledge Karunya Univerisity for the financial support provided through Karunya Short-Term Research Grant (KSTRG) to carry out this study and also would like to acknowledge the valuable technical help of Dr. Guruvayoorappan C., Assistant Professor (SG), Department of Biotechnology, Karunya University, Coimbatore.

Declaration of interest

The Authors report no conflicts of interest. The Authors are alone responsible for the content and writing of the paper.