Effects of Human Milk Whey Proteins on PPARγ Gene Expression and Cell Migration in Gastric Cancer Cell Line

Abstract

Purpose: Human breast milk, a source of biologically active molecules, has long been utilized in the treatment of various diseases. Among its components, whey proteins have attracted attention for their potential influence on cancer-related metabolic pathways, particularly peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), a key regulator of tumor progression. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of human milk-derived whey proteins on PPARγ gene expression and cell migration in gastric cancer cells. Methods: Whey proteins were isolated from breast milk collected from ten mothers with infants aged 0–6 months and applied to AGS gastric cancer cells under laboratory conditions. After 48 hours of incubation, total RNA was extracted, reverse-transcribed to cDNA, and PPARγ expression levels were quantified using qRT-PCR. In parallel, cell migration was evaluated through wound healing assays. Results: The results indicated differential regulation of PPARγ expression across samples. A significant increase in expression was observed in samples 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 (p<0.05), whereas sample 8 was the only group showing decreased expression. Migration assays further revealed that whey proteins from samples 2, 3, 5, and 8 suppressed cell migration relative to controls, while samples 6, 7, 9, and 10 did not exhibit such effects. Conclusion: Overall, these findings suggest that whey proteins from different individuals exert variable effects on PPARγ expression and gastric cancer cell migration, potentially reflecting inter-individual differences in protein composition. Future studies should focus on characterizing individual protein components of whey and their specific contributions to PPARγ regulation and metastasis-related pathways.

Keywords

• cell migration
• gastric cancer
• PPARγ
• whey proteins

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval was obtained from the Haliç University Non-Interventional Clinical Trials Ethics Committee for the collection of breast milk as the material to be analyzed in the study (01/12/2021-194).

Thanks

I would like to thank Özlem Ağırel for her contributions to the completion of this study.

Mide Kanseri Hücre Hattında İnsan Sütü Whey proteinlerinin PPARγ Gen Ekspresyonu ve Hücre Göçü Üzerindeki Etkileri

Abstract

Amaç: Biyolojik açıdan oldukça önemli moleküllere sahip olan insan anne sütünün yüzyıllardır birçok hastalığın tedavisinde kullanıldığı bilinmektedir. Kanser progresyonundaki kilit metabolik yolaklardan biri olan PPARγ’ nın anne sütü whey proteinleri uygulandığında nasıl bir etkiye sebep olduğu hala araştırılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada anne sütünden elde edilen whey proteinleri uygulanan mide kanseri hücrelerinde kanserleşme sürecinde kompleks etkisi olan PPARγ’ nın gen ifadesi ve hücre göçü üzerindeki etkisinin incelenmesi amaçlandı. Yöntem: 0-6 aylık bebeği olan 10 farklı anneden alınan sütlerden laboratuvar koşullarında whey proteinleri elde edilerek uygun koşullarda çoğaltılmış olan AGS mide kanseri hücrelerine uygulandı. 48 saat inkübasyonu takiben total RNA izolasyonunu takiben cDNA sentezi yapılarak qRT-PCR yöntemi ile PPARγ gen ifadesi değerlendirildi. Ayrıca yara iyileşme deneyi ile hücre göçü analiz edildi. Bulgular: 1 ile 10 arasında numaralandırılan anne sütlerinden sadece 8. örnekte PPARγ gen ifadesinde azalma görüldü. Diğer örneklerde PPARγ gen ifadesinde artış tespit edildi ancak 3., 4., 5., 6. ve 7. örneklerde bu artış istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulundu (p<0.05). Hücre göçü analizinde ise kontrol hücre grbu ile karşılaştırıldığında 2., 3., 5., ve 8. anne sütü whey proteinlerinin baskıladığı, 6., 7., 9., 10. anne sütü whey proteinlerinin ise metastazı baskılamadığı tespit edildi. Sonuç: Bu çalışma ile farklı annelerden elde edilen whey proteinlerinin PPARγ ifadesini farklı düzenlediği ve bunun metastatik yolaklarla ilişkili olduğu ortaya kondu. Bu durum whey proteinlerinin kişiden kişiye farklı protein profili içermesi ile ilişkilendirilebilir. Whey proteini kompozisyonunu oluşturan her bir proteinin PPARγ ve hücre göçü üzerindeki etkisi tek tek değerlendirilmelidir.

Keywords

• hücre göçü
• mide kanser
• PPARγ
• whey proteinleri

Ethical Statement

Çalışmada analiz edilen materyal olarak anne sütü toplanması için Haliç Üniversitesi Girişimsel Olmayan Klinik Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu'ndan etik onay alındı ​​(01/12/2021-194).

Thanks

Bu çalışmanın tamamlanmasındaki katkılarından dolayı Özlem Ağırel' e teşekkürlerimi sunarım.

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