ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process through which epithelial cells undergo multiple biochemical changes, causing them to differentiate into a mesenchymal-cell phenotype. This process has been shown to contribute to the development of fibrotic diseases. C-phycocyanin (C-PC) is a phycobiliprotein extracted from Spirulina platensis. This study was done to investigate the effect of C-PC on transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1)-induced EMT and an EMT associated proliferation in human epithelial cell lines. METHODS: Human adenocarcinoma cell line, A549 and breast cancer cell line, MCF-7 were treated with TGF-ß1, and EMT-related genes expression, cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest were examined. RESULTS: C-PC suppressed the EMT as assessed by reduced expression of vimentin, type-1-collagen and fibronectin, and increased E-cadherin expression in TGF-ß1 treated cells. Further, TGF-ß1 treatment induced cell cycle arrest in S and G2/M phase in A549 cells. However, TGF-ß1-mediated cell cycle arrest was significantly reversed by combined treatment with C-PC. CONCLUSIONS: The overall data suggested that C-PC suppresses TGF- ß1-induced EMT and warrants further in vivo studies for future evaluation of C-PC as a potential antifibrotic agent.
