γ-Tocotrienol upregulates aryl hydrocarbon receptor expression and enhances the anticancer effect of baicalein

Shuya Yamashita, Kiwako Baba, Akiko Makio, Motofumi Kumazoe, Yuhui Huang, I. Chian Lin, Jaehoon Bae, Motoki Murata, Shuhei Yamada, Hirofumi Tachibana

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Previous studies have identified biomolecules that mediate the physiological actions of food factors, such as amino acids, vitamins, fatty acids, minerals, plant polyphenols, and lactobacilli, suggesting that our bodies are equipped with an innate system that senses which food factors are required to maintain our health. However, the effects of environmental factors on food factor sensing (FFS) remains largely unknown. Tocotorienols (T3s), which belongs to the vitamin E family, possess several physiological functions, including cholesterol lowering and neuroprotective effects. Here, we investigated the effects of naturally abundant γ-T3 on FFS-related gene expressions in melanoma using a DNA chip. Our results showed that γ-T3 increased the expression level of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a sensing molecule to plant polyphenol baicalein. The co-treatment with γ-T3 and baicalein enhanced the anti-proliferative activity of baicalein, accompanied by the downstream events of AhR-activation induced by baicalein. These data suggest that γ-T3 upregulates AhR expression and enhances its sensitivity to baicalein.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)801-807
Number of pages7
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume473
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 13 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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