Effects of silkworm pupa protein on apoptosis and energy metabolism in human colon cancer DLD-1 cells

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of silkworm pupa (Bombyx mori) protein (SPP) on cell proliferation, apoptosis and energy metabolism in human colon cancer cells DLD-1. MethodsCCK-8 was used to detect cell proliferation rate after 72 h of cell culture for the control group (normal cultured DLD-1 cells) and SPP dose groups; Annexin-V/PI was applied to observe cell apoptosis; XFe24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer was used to detect cell mitochondrial respiratory function and glycolytic function. ResultsComparing with the control, SPP significantly inhibited the proliferation of DLD-1 cells with all the dosage tested (P < 0.01); flow cytometry showed that SPP significantly promoted apoptosis (P < 0.05). Additionally, SPP could significantly inhibited mitochondrial metabolism and glycolysis of DLD-1 cells and decreased cell energy metabolism in all groups treated with different doses. ConclusionSPP can cause oxidative damage, promote apoptosis, and reduce mitochondrial respiratory and glycolysis rate in colon cancer DLD-1 cells, which reveals that SPP has the potential to serve as the anti-cancer drugs in the future, but further experimental evidence is needed.