Ulva lactuca polysaccharides prevent Wistar rat breast carcinogenesis through the augmentation of apoptosis, enhancement of antioxidant defense system, and suppression of inflammation

Abstract

Background

Recently, several research studies have been focused on the isolation and function of the polysaccharides derived from different algal species, which revealed multiple biological activities such as antioxidant and antitumor activities. This study assesses the possible breast cancer chemopreventive properties of common seaweeds, sea lettuce, Ulva lactuca (ulvan) polysaccharides using in vitro bioassays on human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and an in vivo animal model of breast carcinogenesis.

Methods

Cytotoxic effect of ulvan polysaccharides on MCF-7 was tested in vitro. For an in vivo investigation, a single dose of 25 mg/kg body weight 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and ulvan polysaccharides (50 mg/kg body weight every other day) for 10 weeks were administered orally to the Wistar rats.

Results

Deleterious histopathological alterations in breast tissues including papillary cyst adenoma and hyperplasia of ductal epithelial lining with intraluminal necrotic materials and calcifications were observed in the DMBA-administered group. These lesions were prevented in the DMBA-administered group treated with ulvan polysaccharides. The immunohistochemical sections depicted that the treatment of DMBA-administered rats with ulvan polysaccharides markedly increased the lowered pro-apoptotic protein, p53, and decreased the elevated anti-apoptotic marker, bcl2, expression in the breast tissue. The elevated lipid peroxidation and the suppressed antioxidant enzyme activities in DMBA-administered control were significantly prevented by the treatment with ulvan polysaccharides. The elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α and nitric oxide were significantly ameliorated in DMBA-administered rats treated with ulvan polysaccharides as compared to DMBA-administered control.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ulvan polysaccharides at the level of initiation and promotion might have potential chemopreventive effects against breast carcinogenesis. These preventive effects may be mediated through the augmentation of apoptosis, suppression of oxidative stress and inflammation, and enhancement of antioxidant defense system.

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Keywords:

• breast carcinogenesis
• cancer initiation
• cancer promotion
• Ulva lactuca polysaccharides
• DMBA
• oxidative stress
• apoptosis

Introduction

Cancer is one of the most worldwide spread diseases. Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and a leading cause of cancer-related death in women around the world.¹ Worldwide, it is estimated that >1 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, and that >40% of these patients die from the disease, representing 14% of female cancer deaths.² The multistep process including initiation, promotion, and progression of carcinogenesis is a complicated process that results from excessive production of oxidative radicals, DNA alterations, and lastly the loss of the normal regulatory pathways between cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis.^3,4

Progress made in cancer therapy has not been sufficient to minimize the annual death rates. The currently used conventional anticancer drugs are also toxic to normal cells in addition to being toxic to cancer cells.⁵ Hence, there is a greater need for new effective and safe strategies in cancer control and therapy. Prevention is the most practical strategy to control occurrence and spread of cancer.⁶ Cancer chemoprevention aims to stop or reverse the development and progression of precancerous cells through the use of non-cytotoxic nutrients and/or pharmacologically active agents. It is also important to provide various cancer chemopreventive natural agents with different specific molecular and cellular targets, which act through multiple mechanisms.⁶ Many polysaccharides have been isolated from mushrooms, algae, fungi, yeasts, lichens, and plants, and their biological activities because of their immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer effects have been described.^7,8 Algal polysaccharides have been demonstrated to play an important role as free-radical scavengers and antioxidants for the prevention of oxidative damage in living organisms.⁴

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) carcinogen, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary gland tumor in rodents has been widely used as an animal model for the development of chemopreventive drugs for breast cancer in humans.⁹ DMBA has been widely evaluated for its carcinogenicity and is often used as a model compound for breast cancer, skin cancer, leukemia, and other cancers in rodent.¹⁰

The antitumor activity of polysaccharides isolated from Ulva lactuca, a marine alga widely distributed at Egyptian sea shores, has rarely been investigated. Only two available publications revealed that ulvan sulfated polysaccharide has antiproliferative effects on tumoral colon carcinoma cell lines (HCT-29, HCT-116, and Caco-2), hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HepG2), and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells.^11,12 However, the effects of U. lactuca polysaccharides on breast carcinoma are not yet studied. Thus, the present study was designed to validate the effects of ulvan polysaccharides on breast carcinogenesis on the level of initiation and promotion in vivo and on breast carcinoma cell lines (MCF-7) in vitro and to suggest the mechanism of action by investigating the effects on oxidative stress, antioxidant defense system, apoptosis, and inflammation.

Materials and methods

Green alga U. lactuca collection and manipulation

The fresh marine green alga, U. lactuca (Figure 1), was collected from the Mediterranean Sea coast, Alexandrian shores, Egypt, in September 2006. It was identified and authenticated by Prof Dr Ibraheem B M Ibraheem, Professor of Phycology (Algology), Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Beni-suef University. Epiphytes and sand were removed. The alga was washed with sea water, tap water, and then distilled water several times, air dried in the shade, and stored in plastic bags at room temperature in a dry and dark place before use.

Figure 1 Ulva lactuca (sea lettuce).

Chemicals

DMBA was obtained from Sigma-Aldrich (Sigma-Aldrich, VA, USA). Mineral oil was obtained from Sigma-Aldrich (Germany). All other chemicals were of highest purity and analytical grade and were obtained from common commercial suppliers.

Experimental animals

Twenty-eight young virgin Wistar female rats, weighing 110±10 g, were obtained from the animal house of the National Research Center in Egypt. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of National Research Center, Egypt. All animal procedures were in accordance with the guidelines and instructions of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of National Research Center. All efforts were taken to minimize the suffering and number of animals used. The rats were acclimatized in the laboratory conditions for a period of 1 week before being used in the experiment under observation to exclude any intercurrent infection. They were marked and kept in autoclavable polypropylene cages (25 × 40 × 25 cm; seven rats in a cage) with good aerated covers at normal atmospheric temperature (25±5°C) and at normal daily 12 h dark/light cycle. They were fed with commercial food pellets which were formulated to satisfy the recommended needs stated by the National Research Council and provided with tap water ad libitum. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of National Research Center, Egypt. The rats were monitored daily for general well-being by close scrutiny for morbidity. The cages were cleaned and water was changed every second day. The rats were weighed before the starting of the experiment and individual weights were recorded. They were weighed individually each week during the course of the experiment.

U. lactuca polysaccharides extraction

Polysaccharides were extracted from U. lactuca by the technique described previously^13–15 with some modifications. Briefly, 50 g of air shade dried algae were roughly cut and boiled in 500 mL of distilled water at 100°C for 3 h. The slurry was separated by gauze and filtered. The filtrate was dialyzed against tap water for 48 h and then concentrated to ~100 mL under reduced pressure using rotary evaporator. Then, the concentrated filtrate was precipitated using equal volume of 95% ethanol. The mixture was allowed to stand overnight at room temperature. The precipitate was collected and washed twice with absolute ethanol, then dried at 50°C. The crude polysaccharide extract was stored at 4°C until used.

Acute toxicity study of U. lactuca polysaccharides

By increasing the dose up to 3 g ulvan polysaccharides administered by gastric tube/kg body weight (b.wt) rats, no mortality was observed during the first 48 h after administration.

Preparation of solutions

Ulvan polysaccharide solution

The orally administered dose of ulvan polysaccharides, 50 mg/kg b.wt, which is farther far from the higher tested dose in acute toxicity study (3 g/kg b.wt) which produced no mortality, was prepared by dissolving each 50 mg in 5 mL of boiled sterilized saline solution (1 wt/v).

DMBA treatment

To prepare a dose of 25 mg of DMBA/kg b.wt rats, 25 mg of DMBA (powder) was dissolved in 5 mL of filter-sterilized heavy mineral oil.¹⁶

Experimental design (animal grouping)

After an adaptation period of 1 week, the animals were divided into four main groups, each of seven rats:

Group 1: Normal control group

The animals received a single dose of mineral oil (5 mL/kg b.wt) through oral administration and were administered sterilized 0.9% saline (5 mL/kg b.wt) for 10 weeks (every other day).

Group 2: Normal group treated with ulvan polysaccharides

The animals received single dose of mineral oil (5 mL/kg b.wt) through oral administration and were administered ulvan polysaccharides dissolved in 5 mL of sterilized 0.9% saline at a dose level of 50 mg/kg b.wt for 10 weeks (every other day).

Group 3: DMBA-administered control group

The animals were subjected to a single dose of 25 mg DMBA (dissolved in 5 mL of mineral oil)/kg b.wt as described previously.^17–19 They were also administered 0.9% saline (5 mL/kg b.wt) for 10 weeks (every other day).

Group 4: DMBA-administered group treated with ulvan polysaccharides

The animals were subjected to a single dose through oral administration of 25 mg/kg b.wt of DMBA dissolved in 5 mL of mineral oil and received ulvan polysaccharides (50 mg/kg b.wt every other day) dissolved in 5 mL of sterilized 0.9% saline for 10 weeks.

All administrations were performed by intragastric gavages at 10–12 AM.

Sampling

Blood sampling

At the end of the experiment, after 10 weeks, the animals were fasted overnight for 12 h and then were subjected to diethyl ether anesthesia. Blood samples were collected from carotid artery and left for 1 h at room temperature, then centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 15 min at 4°C in order to separate the serum which was kept at −20°C until being used for biochemical assays.

Tissue sampling

Immediately after the animals were sacrificed and dissection, breasts of each animal were quickly excised, washed with normal saline, blotted with filter paper, and weighed to adjust doses according to body weight. Breasts were immediately fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, and then stored for 24 h for paraffin embedding and later for histological and histopathological characterization and for immunohistochemical studies. The other set of breast sections were placed in ice-cold saline (0.9 N NaCl) and then were homogenized in radioimmunoprecipitation assay buffer (20 mM Tris pH 7.5, 0.1% SDS, 150 mM NaCl, 0.5% sodium deoxycholate, and 1% Nonidet P-40). The homogenate was centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 10 min at 4°C using cooling centrifuge, and the supernatant was prepared for analysis.

Histopathological examination

After the preparation of breast tissue samples as mentioned previously in tissue sampling, fixed breast tissue samples were embedded after dehydration in paraffin wax, sectioned at a thickness of 5 μm, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Preparation, processing, and staining were performed in the histopathology lab, the Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Egypt.

Immunohistochemical detection of p53 and bcl-2 expression in rat breast tissue

Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining techniques and staining procedure for p53 and bcl-2 were carried out according to Ahmed and Ahmed.¹¹

Cytotoxic activity of U. Lactuca polysaccharides on human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7)

MCF-7 frozen in liquid nitrogen (−180°C) was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, VA, USA). The tumor cell lines were maintained and the antiproliferative effect was assessed in the Pharmacology Unit, Department of Cancer Biology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo, Egypt, by serial subculturing. The method was carried out according to Skehan et al.²⁰

Assays of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and NO levels

Serum level of TNF-α was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using commercially available matched paired antibodies according to the instructions of R&D Systems Inc. (Minneapolis, MN, USA). Nitrite accumulation was used as an indicator for NO production using a microplate assay based on the Griess reaction.²¹

Assays of breast oxidative stress and antioxidant defense markers

Breast lipid peroxidation, an indicator of oxidative stress, was measured according to the method proposed by Preuss et al²² by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) level using reagents prepared in the laboratory. Breast glutathione (GSH) content and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity were determined according to the methods of Beutler et al²³ and Mannervik and Guthenberg,²⁴ respectively, by using reagents prepared in the laboratory. Glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activities were assayed spectrophotometrically by the methods of Goldberg and Spooner,²⁵ Paglia and Valentine,²⁶ and Aebi,²⁷ respectively, by using reagent kits purchased from Biodiagnostic (Cairo, Egypt).

Statistical analysis of data

The data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance followed by LSD test to compare various groups with each other using PC-STAT program (University of Georgia) coded by Rao et al.²⁸ Results were expressed as mean ± standard error (SE), and values of P>0.05 were considered nonsignificantly different, whereas P<0.05 and P<0.01 were considered significant and highly significant, respectively. F-probability shows the general effect between groups.

Results

Histopathological changes in breast tissues

The effect of U. lactuca polysaccharides on breast tissues of DMBA-administered rats was evaluated by histopathological examination of the breast tissue sections stained with H&E. The histological sections depicted in Figure 2 show mammary gland of normal control rats with normal acini lined with cuboidal epithelial cells. In addition, Figure 3 shows breast section of normal control group exhibiting normal lobuloalveolar unit. The breast of normal rats treated with ulvan polysaccharides exhibited normal structure with normal lobuloalveolar unit (Figure 4), and it was noted that mammary acini was lined with cuboidal epithelium.

Figure 2 Photomicrograph of breast section of normal control rat showing normal acini (Ac) lined with CEs (H and E, ×400).

Abbreviations: CE, cuboidal epithelial cell; H and E, hematoxylin and eosin.

Figure 3 Photomicrograph of breast section of normal control rat showing normal LaU (H and E, ×400).

Abbreviations: LaU, lobuloalveolar unit; H and E, hematoxylin and eosin.

Figure 4 Photomicrograph of breast section of normal rat treated with ulvan polysaccharides showing normal LaU. Notice that mammary acini are lined with CE (H and E, ×400).

Abbreviations: LaU, lobuloalveolar unit; CE, cuboidal epithelial cell; H and E, hematoxylin and eosin.

On the other hand, the single-dose administration of DMBA produced histopathological changes in breast tissues in DMBA-administered control rats showing cystic dilatation of duct with intraluminal necrotic materials (Figure 5), papillary cyst adenoma (Figure 6), and hyperplasia of ductal epithelial lining with intraluminal necrotic materials with calcifications (Figure 7).

Figure 5 Photomicrograph of breast section of DMBA-administered control rat showing cystic dilatation of duct with INM (H and E, ×400).

Abbreviations: DMBA, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene; INM, intraluminal necrotic material; H and E, hematoxylin and eosin.

Figure 6 Photomicrograph of breast section of DMBA-administered control rat showing PCA (H and E, ×400).

Abbreviations: DMBA, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene; PCA, papillary cyst adenoma; H and E, hematoxylin and eosin.

Figure 7 Photomicrograph of breast section of DMBA-administered control rat showing hyperplasia of ductal epithelial lining with INM and calcifications (C) (H and E, ×400).

Abbreviations: DMBA, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene; INM, intraluminal necrotic material; H and E, hematoxylin and eosin.

The breast of DMBA-administered rats treated with ulvan polysaccharides exhibited apparent normal duct, normal acini with cuboidal epithelial lining (Figure 8), and normal lobuloalveolar unit (Figure 9).

Figure 8 Photomicrograph of breast section of DMBA-administered group rat treated with ulvan polysaccharides showing apparent normal duct and acini with CE lining (H and E, ×400).

Abbreviations: DMBA, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene; CE, cuboidal epithelial cell; H and E, hematoxylin and eosin.

Figure 9 Photomicrograph of breast section of DMBA-administered group rat treated with ulvan polysaccharides showing normal acini, normal duct, and normal LaU (H and E, ×400).

Abbreviations: DMBA, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene; LaU, lobuloalveolar unit; H and E, hematoxylin and eosin.

Effects on p53 and bcl-2 expression in rat breast

The effect of U. lactuca polysaccharides on tumor suppressor protein p53 and anti-apoptotic mediator bcl-2 was examined by immunohistochemical techniques through the intensity of immunoreactivity (Figures 10–17).

Figure 10 Photomicrographs of immunohistochemically stained breast tissue sections showing apoptotic marker, p53 expression (indicated by the arrows) in normal control rats (A, B, and C; ×400).

Note: A, B, and C are different sections from more than one rat of the same group.

Figure 11 Photomicrographs of immunohistochemically stained breast tissue sections showing the effect of Ulva lactuca polysaccharides on apoptotic marker p53 expression (indicated by the arrows) (A, B, and C; ×400).

Note: A, B, and C are different sections from more than one rat of the same group.

Figure 12 Photomicrographs of immunohistochemically stained breast tissue sections showing the effect of DMBA on apoptotic marker p53 expression (indicated by the arrows) (A, B, and C; ×400).

Abbreviation: DMBA, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene.
Note: A, B, and C are different sections from more than one rat of the same group.

Figure 13 Photomicrographs of immunohistochemically stained breast tissue sections showing the effect of Ulva lactuca polysaccharides on apoptotic marker p53 expression (indicated by the arrows) in DMBA-administered rats (A, B, and C; ×400).

Abbreviation: DMBA, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene.
Note: A, B, and C are different sections from more than one rat of the same group.

Figure 14 Photomicrographs of immunohistochemically stained breast tissue sections showing antiapoptotic marker, bcl-2 expression (indicated by the arrows) in normal control rats (A and B; ×400).

Note: A and B are different sections from more than one rat of the same group.

Figure 15 Photomicrographs of immunohistochemically stained breast tissue sections showing the effect of Ulva lactuca polysaccharides on antiapoptotic marker bcl-2 expression (indicated by the arrows) (A, B, and C; ×400).

Note: A, B, and C are different sections from more than one rat of the same group.

Figure 16 Photomicrographs of immunohistochemically stained breast tissue sections showing the effect of DMBA on antiapoptotic marker bcl-2 expression (indicated by the arrows) (A, B, and C; ×400).

Note: A, B, and C are different sections from more than one rat of the same group.
Abbreviation: DMBA, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene.

Figure 17 Photomicrographs of immunohistochemically stained breast tissue sections showing the effect of Ulva lactuca polysaccharides on antiapoptotic marker bcl-2 expression (indicated by the arrows) in DMBA-administered rats (A, B, and C; ×400).

Note: A, B, and C are different sections from more than one rat of the same group.
Abbreviation: DMBA, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene.

The photomicrographs of immunohistochemically stained breast tissue sections revealed that the administration of ulvan polysaccharides to normal rats produced a moderate increase in the amount of p53 expressed (Figure 11A–C) as compared to the breast tissue of normal control (Figure 10A–C). On the other hand, the amount of p53 was remarkably decreased in DMBA-administrated rats (Figure 12A–C) as compared to the normal control. The treatment of DMBA-administered rats with ulvan polysaccharides successfully increased the amount of expressed p53 (Figure 13A–C) as compared to DMBA-administered control rats (Figure 12A–C).

The photomicrographs of immunohistochemically stained breast sections revealed that the administration of ulvan polysaccharides to normal rats produced more or less no change in the amount of expressed bcl-2 (Figure 15A–C) as compared to breast tissue of normal control (Figure 14A and B). On the other hand, the amount of bcl-2 was potentially increased in DMBA-administered rats (Figure 16A–C) as compared to the normal control. The treatment of DMBA-administered rats with ulvan polysaccharides potentially decreased the elevated amount of expressed bcl-2 (Figure 17A–C) as compared to DMBA-administered control rats (Figure 16A–C).

Cytotoxicity effects on breast carcinoma cell line (MCF-7)

Figure 18 revealed a marked stepwise gradual decrease in the survival percent of breast carcinoma cell lines (MCF-7) as the concentration of ulvan polysaccharides increased from 25 to 200 μg/mL in culture incubation medium. The IC₅₀ was 224.716 μg/mL.

Figure 18 Cytotoxic effect of Ulva lactuca polysaccharides on human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7).

Effect on serum TNF-α and NO concentrations

The effect of ulvan polysaccharides on serum TNF-α and level in normal and DMBA-administered rats is shown in Table 1. The administration of ulvan polysaccharides to normal rats produced no significant change (P>0.05) of TNF-α and NO levels. On the other hand, the single-dose administration of DMBA produced a highly significant increase (P<0.01) in both the concentrations. The treatment of DMBA-administered rats with ulvan polysaccharides succeeded in decreasing the elevated levels of serum TNF-α and NO levels (P<0.01) recording percentage decreases of 33.95% and 36.86%, respectively, as compared to the DMBA-administered control.

Table 1 The effect of Ulva lactuca polysaccharide administration on serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in DMBA-treated rats

Parameters	TNF-α (pg/mL)	% change	NO concentration (μmol/L)	% change
Groups
Normal control	204.0±3.82^b	–	4.90±1.32^c	–
Normal treated with ulvan polysaccharides	204.7±6.48^b	+0.35	5.06±1.50^c	+ 3.12
DMBA-administered control	252.9±6.60^a	+23.95	15.60±1.51^a	+218.15
DMBA-administered group treated with ulvan polysaccharides	167.0±5.54^c	−33.95	9.85±0.99^b	−36.86
LSD at the 5% level	16.69		3.93
LSD at the 1% level	22.62		5.32

Notes: Values are expressed as mean ± standard error (SE) of seven rats per group. Means, which share the same superscript symbol(s), are not significantly different (P>0.05). 1) If the difference between two means is higher than the value of LSD at the 5% level, the effect will be significant (P<0.05). 2) If the difference between two means is higher than the value of LSD at the 1% level, then the effect will be highly significant (P<0.01). % changes were calculated by comparing normal rats treated with ulvan polysaccharides and DMBA-administered control with normal control group; and DMBA-administered rats treated with ulvan polysaccharides with DMBA-administered control. LSD (least significant difference) between means.

Abbreviation: DMBA, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene.

Effect on breast lipid peroxidation

The effect of ulvan polysaccharides on breast MDA level which expresses the lipid peroxidation in normal and DMBA-administered rats is shown in Table 2. The administration of ulvan polysaccharides to normal rats increased (P<0.05) lipid peroxidation. The single-dose administration of DMBA produced a highly significant increase (P<0.01) of lipid peroxidation; recording an increase of 126.92% as compared to normal control. On the other hand, the treatment of DMBA-administered rats with ulvan polysaccharides significantly ameliorated to significantly ameliorate (P<0.01) the elevated rates of lipid peroxidation, recording a decrease of 51.28% as compared to the DMBA-administered control.

Table 2 The effect of Ulva lactuca polysaccharides administration on lipid peroxidation (nmol MDA/100 mg tissue/h) in breast tissue homogenate

Parameters	Lipid peroxidation (nmol MDA/100 mg tissue/h)	% change
Groups
Normal control	29.57±1.07^c	–
Normal treated with ulvan polysaccharides	36.29±0.52^b	+22.73
DMBA-administered control	67.14±1.77^a	+126.92
DMBA-administered group treated with ulvan polysaccharides	32.71±3.37^bc	−51.28
LSD at the 5% level	5.818
LSD at the 1% level	7.884

Notes: Values are expressed as mean ± standard error (SE) of seven rats per group. Means, which share the same superscript symbol(s), are not significantly different (P>0.05). 1) If the difference between two means is higher than the value of LSD at the 5% level, the effect will be significant (P<0.05). 2) If the difference between two means is higher than the value of LSD at the 1% level, then the effect will be highly significant (P<0.01). % changes were calculated by comparing normal rats treated with ulvan polysaccharides and DMBA-administered control with normal control group; and DMBA-administered rats treated with ulvan polysaccharides with DMBA-administered control. LSD (least significant difference) between means.

Abbreviations: DMBA, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene; MDA, malondialdehyde bis diethyl acetal.

Effects on breast GSH content and antioxidant enzyme activities

The effects of ulvan polysaccharides on breast GSH concentration and antioxidant enzyme activities in normal and DMBA-administrated rats are shown in Table 3. The administration of ulvan polysaccharides to normal rats produced a detectable decrease in GSH concentration as compared to normal control. The single-dose administration of DMBA produced a highly significant decrease (P<0.01) in GSH concentration; the recorded decrease of percentage change was 39.16% as compared to normal control. On the other hand, the treatment of DMBA-administered rats with ulvan polysaccharides succeeded in increasing (P<0.05; 26.60%) the diminished GSH content as compared to the DMBA-administered control.

Table 3 The effect of Ulva lactuca polysaccharides administration on antioxidant defense system in breast of normal and DMBA-administered rats.

Parameters	Glutathione (GSH) concentration (μmol/mg tissue)	% change	Glutathione reductase (GR) activity (U/mg tissue)	% change	Glutathione-S-transferase activity (μmol/mg tissue)	% change	Glutathione peroxidase activity (mU/g tissue)	% change	Catalase (mU/mg tissue) activity	% change
Groups
Normal control	0.441±0.034^a	–	0.986±0.132^a	–	1.731±0.071^a	–	3.69±0.03^a	–	3.03±0.048^a	–
Normal treated with ulvan polysaccharides	0.336±0.005^bc	−23.95	0.886±0.066^a	−10.14	1.559±0.025^b	−9.94	3.09±0.02^b	−16.26	1.49±0.01^c	−50.71
DMBA-administered control	0.269±0.020^c	−39.16	0.593±0.035^b	−39.86	0.507±0.030^c	−70.71	0.90±0.04^d	−75.61	0.46±0.06^d	−84.86
DMBA-administered group treated with ulvan polysaccharides	0.340±0.026^b	+26.60	0.806±0.018^ab	+35.90	1.569±0.062^b	+209.30	1.99±0.05^c	+121.1	1.99±0.19^b	+334.60
LSD at the 5% level	0.069		0.222		0.149		0.109		0.300
LSD at the 1% level	0.094		0.301		0.201		0.148		0.407

Notes: Values are expressed as mean ± standard error (SE) of seven rats per group. Means, which share the same superscript symbol(s), are not significantly different (P>0.05). 1) If the difference between two means is higher than the value of LSD at the 5% level, the effect will be significant (P<0.05). 2) If the difference between two means is higher than the value of LSD at the 1% level, then the effect will be highly significant (P<0.01). % changes were calculated by comparing normal rats treated with ulvan polysaccharides and DMBA-administered control with normal control group; and DMBA-administered rats treated with ulvan polysaccharides with DMBA-administered control. LSD (least significant difference) between means.

Abbreviation: DMBA, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene.

The activities of antioxidant enzymes, including GR, GST, GPx, and CAT, were markedly decreased in normal rats treated with ulvan polysaccharides as compared with the normal control recording changes of −10.14%, −9.94%, −16.26%, and −50.71%, respectively. On the other hand, DMBA administration produced a highly significant decrease of these enzyme activities (P<0.01). CAT followed by GPx seemed to be the most affected tested enzymes since their percentage decreases were 84.86% and 75.61%, respectively, as compared to the normal control. The treatment of DMBA-administered rats with ulvan polysaccharides successfully improved the suppressed antioxidant enzyme activities; the recorded increases were 35.90%, 209.30%, 121.10%, and 334.64%, respectively, for GR, GST, GPx, and CAT activities in comparison with the DMBA-administered control rats. Moreover, the effect of ulvan polysaccharides on GST, GPx, and CAT of DMBA-administered rats was highly significant (P<0.01).

Discussion

In the present study, DMBA-induced rat mammary carcinogenesis at the level of initiation and promotion that assessed histopathologically and MCF-7 in vitro were used for the evaluation of the activities of U. lactuca polysaccharides as cancer chemopreventive and antiproliferative agents.

Animal experimental systems are particularly useful for the study of human mammary carcinogenesis. Since the rat mammary gland shows a high susceptibility to develop neoplasms, which closely mimic human breast cancer, they have been selected in comparison with other animal models.²⁹

In the present study, DMBA is used as a mammary carcinogenic agent. After 10 weeks of a single oral dose of 25 mg/kg b. wt of DMBA, papillary cyst adenoma, hyperplasia of ductal epithelial lining, cystic dilatation of ducts, and intraluminal necrotic materials with calcifications were found. Thus, the present study goes parallel with several previous publications which stated that DMBA induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats.^30–33 As indicated from previous publications, the mechanism of carcinogenic action of DMBA involves the formation of ultimate carcinogenic metabolite, DMBA-3,4-diol-1,2-epoxide (DMBA-DE), which increases oxidative stress, binds to DNA to form DNA adducts, causes DNA damage, and produces immunotoxicity.^34,35

The administration of ulvan polysaccharides to DMBA-treated rats for a period of 10 weeks successfully prevented the DMBA-induced histological alterations and carcinogenic lesions. This evidence was confirmed by breast tissue sections of DMBA-administered rats, treated with ulvan polysaccharides, which showed apparent normal duct, normal acini with cuboidal epithelial lining, and normal lobuloalveolar units. In accordance with these results, previous studies^36,37 revealed that ulvan polysaccharides have great amelioration in all histological lesions in liver and kidney tissues of rats. Moreover, Ahmed and Ahmed¹¹ reported that ulvan polysaccharides inhibited Ehrlich ascites cell proliferation in EAC-bearing mouse model. They stated that some EAC cells were degenerated, and many others exhibited phenotypic apoptotic signs including cell shrinkage, irregular shape, plasma membrane blebbing, cytoplasmic azurophilic lytic vesicles, apoptotic bodies, and fragmenting nuclei.

In conductance with the present in vivo investigation, in vitro assay revealed that U. lactuca polysaccharides have marked dose-dependent anticancer and cytotoxicity effects on breast carcinoma cell lines (MCF-7) as the concentration increases from 25 to 200 μg/mL. These results are in agreement with prior study³⁸ which reported that the crude polysaccharides of fruit bodies of Lentinus polychrous Lév had cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 and in accordance with other previous publication,³⁹ which found that polysaccharides from Porphyra yezoensis inhibited the growth of a panel of human tumor cell lines, and such effects were dose-dependent. Recently, Ahmed and Ahmed¹¹ found that U. lactuca polysaccharides have strong cytotoxicity effects against Ehrlich cells, hepatoma cell lines (HepG2), and colon carcinoma cell lines (HCT116).

Tumor suppressor protein p53 and anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2 are closely related to the majority of human cancers.⁴⁰ Apoptotic marker p53 is a critical regulator of apoptosis in many cell types. It stimulates a wide network of signals that act through either extrinsic or intrinsic pathways of apoptosis⁴¹ by activating the transcription of downstream genes such as p21 and Bax to induce apoptotic process which inhibits the growth of cells with damaged DNA or cancer cells. On the other hand, bcl-2 has been reported to function primarily by blocking the apoptosis pathway.⁴²Bcl-2 gene product is a negative regulator of apoptosis, which forms a heterodimer complex with Bax and neutralizes the effect of pro-apoptosis.⁴³ Bcl-2 has emerged as an important clinical prognostic marker in breast cancer.^44,45

The present study tried to explain the antiproliferative effects of U. lactuca polysaccharides on p53 and bcl-2 by using immunohistochemical techniques. The photomicrographs of immunohistochemically stained breast tissue sections revealed that the administration of ulvan polysaccharides to normal rats produced a moderate increase in the amount of p53 and produced no change in the amount of bcl-2 as compared to breast tissue of normal control. On the other hand, the amount of expressed p53 was potentially decreased in DMBA-administered rats, whereas the amount of expressed bcl-2 was potentially increased as compared to normal control. These findings are supported by the findings of Sahin et al⁴⁶ who reported that animals administered DMBA had an increased expression of bcl-2 in mammary tissues, and various subtypes of breast cancer have an elevated expression of bcl-2 among them.⁴⁷ In addition, a recent study⁴⁸ indicated that the DBMA-induced tumors are apparently the result of p53 inactivation as well as bcl-2 expression activation.

The treatment of DMBA-administered rats with ulvan polysaccharides increased the amount of p53 and decreased the amount of bcl-2 as compared to DMBA-administered control rats. This is in agreement with the study⁴⁹ which reported that sulfated polysaccharide of algae increased the expression of p53 and decreased the expression of bcl-2 in lung cancer in mice. In addition, a previous experiment⁵⁰ revealed that the expression of p53 increased slightly when HT-29 cell line (human colon cancer cells) was treated with Salicornia herbacea polysaccharides as compared with the control. The results are also in accordance with another study⁵¹ which indicated that polysaccharides isolated from Patrinia heterophylla upregulated the expression of p53 and Bax in tumor tissues of mice and significantly inhibited the expression of Bcl-2. Based on these results, it could be suggested that the anticancer activity of U. lactuca polysaccharides was considered to be derived from apoptosis induction, which might be associated with the increased expression of p53 and decreased expression of bcl-2 positive proteins.

In the present investigation, treatment with U. lactuca polysaccharides exhibited potential anticancer activity on DMBA-induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats. This study clearly demonstrated several observations. First, administration of DMBA was associated with the development of mammary carcinoma, elevated levels of serum NO and lipid peroxidation in breast tissue (markers of oxidative stress), elevated levels of serum TNF-α, and decreased antioxidant enzymatic activities. Second, the administration of ulvan polysaccharides was associated with the decreased levels of serum NO, TNF-α, and lipid peroxidation in breast tissue. In addition, it enhanced the antioxidant enzymatic activities in breast tissue, that is, possible therapeutic effects.

In mammary carcinogenesis, several molecules such as TNF-α mediate apoptosis.⁵² The present study revealed that the single-dose administration of DMBA produced a highly significant increase of serum TNF-α level as compared to the normal control group and that is in agreement with the findings of other studies.^53,54 This high level may be due to increased production by the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and/or by the tumor cells.^55,56 TNF-α seems to act as an endogenous tumor promoter when chronically produced, contributing to tissue remodeling and stromal development necessary for tumor growth and spread.⁵⁷ TNF-α is produced by mononuclear macrophage chiefly as well as by NK cells and T cells. TNF-α level refers to the degree of immunoreactions.⁵⁸

The treatment of DMBA-administered rats with ulvan polysaccharides significantly decreased the elevated levels of serum TNF-α as compared to the DMBA-administered control. These results are in accordance with another study,⁵⁸ which indicated that ginseng polysaccharide could lower the protein expression of TNF-α in the Peyer’s patch lymphocyte in collagen-induced arthritis rats and the supernatant of lamina propria lymphocyte in normal rats for two reasons: first the activation of Th2 cells and the secretion of the inhibitors like interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and TGF-β inhibited the organic immunologic response of foreign antigens. Second, because the CD4⁺ cell content in lamina propria is only 8.06%, the relative concentration of antigen increased, which caused CD4⁺ T-cell apoptosis. These findings are supported by previous finding⁵⁹ which reported that Lentinus edodes polysaccharide administration significantly decreased the levels of serum, mucosal IL-2 and TNF-α in rats with oral ulceration. Similarly, there are reports about the constituents of the red alga Gracillaria verrucosa which indicate its anti-inflammatory activity determined by its inhibitory effects on the production of the same pro-inflammatory mediators (NO, IL-6, and TNF-α).⁶⁰ In addition, these results are in agreement with results which reported that under the higher stimulation of both lipopolysaccharide and phorbol myristate acetate, the polysaccharides of Ganoderma tsugae (including FIII-2, FIII-2-a, FIII-2-b, and FIII-2-c) downregulate TNF-α production in human myelomonocytic leukemic cells.⁶¹ It was explained that cytokine gene expression might be regulated by these polysaccharides at transcriptional level.⁶¹

In the present study, DMBA-administered rats exhibited a profound elevation of serum NO level and breast lipid peroxidation as compared to normal control. These results are consistent with the results which found that serum and tissue lipid peroxidation and NO level were increased significantly in the breast cancer-bearing animals induced by DMBA.⁹ The present results are also in agreement with many previous reports.^52,62–66 In consistency with the present study, the results of another study showed that an increase in the MDA level was observed in the lactiferous ducts of rats exposed to DMBA.⁶⁷ The higher lipid peroxidation in breast tissue of DMBA-administered rats could be due to the formation of free radicals through an exhaustion of antioxidants leading to oxidative stress.⁶⁵ Toxic property of DMBA is associated with its oxidative metabolism leading to the formation of reactive metabolites (epoxides and quinines), which are capable of generating free radicals. Metabolism of DMBA by the mixed function oxidases system often results in the formation of oxyradicals “O₂^•−, H₂O₂ and ^•OH” which bind covalently to nucleophilic sites on cellular macromolecules, thereby eliciting cancerous responses.⁹ The generation of ROS and the peroxidation of membrane lipids are well associated with the initiation of carcinogenesis.⁶⁸

In the present study, the high significant increase in lipid peroxidation level after DMBA administration to rats is due to the significant acceleration in the oxidation of lipid. This acceleration in lipid peroxidation measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substance content, which is attributed to the peroxidation of the membrane unsaturated fatty acids due to free radical propagation concomitant with the inhibition of bio-oxidase activities.⁶⁹ Hence, oxidative stress induced due to the generation of free radicals in the target cells and tissues has been suggested to play an important role in carcinogenesis.⁷⁰ It plays a role in the initiation and progression of breast cancer.^71,72 Oxidative stress results from the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that exhaust antioxidant defenses. These stress conditions cause DNA damage, resulting in the production of mutated tumor-suppressor genes.⁵² In addition, activated inflammatory cells produce ROS and NO, resulting in oxidative stress, which has been shown to be associated with tumor promotion.^73–75 Moreover, ROS can be important mediators of damage to cell structures at high concentrations, including lipids and membranes, proteins, and nucleic acid.⁷⁶ A critical role is played by macrophages in the innate and adaptive immunoresponses. Pathogens are engulfed by phagocytosis of macrophages and digested.⁷⁷ This defense includes the secretion of inflammation mediators such as NO.⁷⁸ NO is a highly reactive free radical, which can form a number of oxidation products that induce initiation and promotion of cancer such as NO₂, NO₂^•, N₂O₃, and ONOO⁻.⁷⁸ In addition, overgeneration of NO, a reactive nitrogen oxide species, during infection and chronic inflammation is thought to initiate cellular injury and carcinogenesis, for example, through nitrosative deamination of DNA bases and induction of lipid peroxidation.^79,80 Endogenous nitric oxide (NO^•) plays a dual role in specialized tissues and cells, and acts as an essential physiological signaling molecule mediating various cell functions and also induces cytotoxic and mutagenic effects when present in excess. NO^• reacts rapidly with superoxide anion to form peroxynitrite, which may be cytotoxic by itself or easily decompose to the highly reactive and toxic hydroxyl radical and nitrogen dioxide.⁸¹

Lipid peroxidation is a chain reaction that involves the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in membranes induced by ROS and is an indicator of oxidative cell damage.⁸² The major target of ROS in vivo or in vitro is membrane lipid peroxidation that leads to abnormalities in the structural integrity and function of the cell membrane.⁸³ MDA, a secondary product of lipid peroxidation is used as an indicator of the rate of tissue chain reactions.⁸⁴ It has been reported that products of lipid peroxidation may cause DNA damage.^84,85 Lipid peroxidation is one of the major mechanisms of cellular injury which is caused by free radicals.⁸⁶ Free radical-initiated oxidation of cellular membrane lipids can lead to cellular necrosis and is now accepted to be important in relation to various pathological conditions.⁸⁷ Lipid peroxidation can be initiated by peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻) and peroxynitrous acid which are formed as a result of the reaction of superoxide with NO which are overproduced by oxidative stress.⁸⁸ It has been suggested that excessively generated lipid peroxides at the primary site could be transferred through circulation to other organs and provoke damage by propagating lipid peroxidation.⁸⁹

In the present study, the treatment of DMBA-administered rats with ulvan polysaccharides potentially decreased the elevated levels of serum NO and breast lipid peroxidation as compared to those of the DMBA-administered control rats. Our results are supported by the findings⁷⁷ which reported that treatment with gum C-glycosylated derivative or its sulfated derivative resulted in a potent inhibition of the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated NO. Hence, they strongly inhibited the generation of nitric oxide in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW murine macrophage. In addition, these results are in agreement with the results of Park et al⁹⁰ who found that water-soluble polysaccharide from Eleutherococcus senticosus reduced the NO and lipid peroxidation levels in serum of mice. In the present study, polysaccharides extracted from the green alga, U. lactuca, profoundly decreased the serum NO level. These findings are supported by the findings of Gamal-Eldeen et al⁸⁰ who found that polysaccharide extract from the brown alga, Sargassum latifolium, enhanced the macrophage proliferation; however, it dramatically inhibited the production of stimulated NO. Our findings are also in concurrence with the results of Cardoso et al⁹¹ which proved that fucoidan (a term used to define polysaccharides composed mainly of sulfated l-fucose and containing <10% of other monosaccharides) from brown algae Fucus vesiculosus significantly reduced the NO concentration. The reduction of NO level in DMBA-administered group treated with ulvan polysaccharides may be due to the inhibition of NO synthase enzyme.⁷² The inhibitory property of NO may be due to a direct scavenging capacity to NO, an inhibition of the iNOS pathway, and/or a modulation of other factors in the NO cascade, for example, transcriptional factors.⁷⁷

Human body is equipped with various antioxidants such as CAT, GPx, superoxide dismutase (SOD), GSH, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and α-tocopherol (vitamin E), which can counteract the deleterious action of ROS and protect from cellular and molecular damages.⁹²

In the present study, the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as CAT, GST, GR, and GPx generation in the breast were examined. In addition, GSH content in breast tissue was determined.

Also, as compared to normal control, the single-dose administration of DMBA in rats produced a marked decrease in the activities of GST, GPx, CAT, and GR in the breast tissue. In addition, a substantial decrease in breast GSH content was detected. These results are in accordance with other studies^66,93 which revealed that the total antioxidant level was detectably decreased in the serum of DMBA group as compared with the control group. Moreover, the present study is in agreement with Kaufmann et al³³ who reported that the enzymic antioxidant SOD, CAT, and GPx levels in cancer-induced animals were reduced when compared to the control animals. The decrease in these enzymatic antioxidants may be attributed to the elucidation that oxidative stress due to exacerbated production of ROS may exhaust antioxidant defenses. Oxidative stress due to increased ROS levels coupled with the deficiency of host antioxidant defense mechanism might be a determining factor contributing in the development of cancer.⁹⁴ Prasad et al⁹⁴ revealed that a significant decrease of the enzyme SOD, CAT, GR, and GST in liver was recorded in the DMBA-administered rats. It was observed that there were decreases in antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH levels of heart and brain tissues of rats exposed to DMBA and concluded that DMBA treatment induces an increase in oxidative damage in rat tissues.⁹⁵ This increase in oxidative production plays a role in DMBA-induced tissue damage which is in agreement with our results. The reduced activity of GST observed by DMBA administration may be partly due to the lack of its substrate (GSH),⁹⁶ which occurs also due to reduced activity of GR.⁹⁴

CAT is a peroxisomal heme protein that catalyzes the removal of hydrogen peroxide formed during the reaction catalyzed by SOD. Thus, SOD and CAT act as mutually supportive antioxidative enzymes, which provide protective defense against ROS.⁹⁷ CAT activity was decreased in the DMBA-administered control group, which may be due to altered antioxidant status caused by carcinogenesis. Decrease of CAT activity was measured in patients with breast cancer and benign breast disease conditions.⁹⁸ The decrease in CAT activity in DMBA-administered control group may be due to the utilization of antioxidant enzymes in the removal of H₂O₂ released.

On the other hand, in the present study, the treatment of DMBA-administered rats with ulvan polysaccharides improved the decreased levels of breast GST, GPx, GR, and CAT activities and breast GSH contents. These results are in agreement with prior studies^15,36,37 which discussed that Ulva spp. have good antioxidant activity in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in nicotinamide/streptozotocin-induced diabetes in albino rats. Our results are supported by Ruberto et al and Athukorala et al^99,100 who suggested that antioxidant activity is one of the most important activities in marine bioactive substances and many algal and algae-derived compounds exhibited potent antioxidant such as carotenoids, phenolics, terpenoids, and sulfated polysaccharides. The antioxidant activity of these compounds is mainly attributed to their scavenging activity against superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, chelating ability, quenching singlet and triplet oxygen, and reducing power.

Nonenzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants play a protective role against neoplastic transformation and ROS-mediated oxidative stress.⁸³ It was reported that to protect cells from oxidative stress, radicals and nonradical reactive species including peroxides and superoxides need to be inactivated enzymatically by CAT, SOD, and GPx, antioxidant enzymes that provide the cellular defense against the intermediates of dioxygen reduction (superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals).^94,101 The protection provided by ulvan polysaccharides is possible by scavenging of superoxide and peroxyl radicals. GST catalyzes the detoxification of electrophilic species including metabolites of DMBA to protect the cells against peroxidative damage.¹⁰² Increased antioxidant may be a result of a protective mechanism that develops against free radical damage, maintaining the normal biochemical process.⁶⁶

It was reported that GST detoxifies carcinogens either by destroying their active reactive centers or by facilitating their excretion through a conjugation process.⁷³ GR, an important enzyme required for reduced GSH maintenance, catalyzes reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent reduction of glutathione disulfide to GSH.¹⁰³

Ulvan polysaccharides have antioxidant activity. Water-soluble polysaccharide from E. senticosus increased the activities of CAT and GPx in kidney⁹⁰ and attenuated the renal dysfunction.¹⁰⁴ The increase in antioxidant enzymes by U. lactuca polysaccharides suggests that it inhibits the process of oxidative stress-induced carcinogenesis. The protective effect of ulvan polysaccharides as indicated by reduced lipid peroxides could be due to an increase in GSH and the antioxidant enzymes GST, GPx, and CAT.¹⁰⁵

The results of the present study revealed that U. lactuca polysaccharides have antioxidant activity. Hence, the damage induced by DMBA was prevented by the antioxidative properties of the ulvan polysaccharides, which was supported by a reported that states that the sulfated polysaccharides extracted from algae possess excellent antioxidant activities.¹⁰⁶ Five polysaccharides have been extracted from five algae including one brown alga Laminaria japonica, one red alga Porphyra haitanensis, and three green algae Ulvapertusa, Enteromorphalinza, and Bryopsis plumose. These five polysaccharides had the strongest radical scavenging effect.

In conclusion, ulvan polysaccharides isolated from U. lactuca have potent antiproliferative and cytotoxic effect against breast carcinoma cell line in vitro and have potential chemopreventive effects against DMBA-induced breast adenoma and hyperplasia in vivo. These anticarcinogenic and ameliorative effects of polysaccharides may be mediated through the induction of apoptosis and enhancement of antioxidant defense system.

Conclusion

Ulvan polysaccharides might have potential chemopreventive effects against breast carcinogenesis during the initiation and promotion stages. These preventive effects may be mediated through the augmentation of apoptosis, suppression of oxidative stress and inflammation, and enhancement of antioxidant defense system.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge Prof Dr Kawkab Abd El Aziz Ahmed, Professor of Pathology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, for her great help in reading histopathological sections of breast and in revising the histopathology part of the manuscript.