Effects of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin type A on inducing the apoptosis in cervical cancer cell line

Abstract

Recently, a number of studies have revealed that biotoxins present great potential as antitumor agents, such as some bacteria toxins, so they could be used as chemotherapeutic agents against tumors. In this study, the effects of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin type A on BAK, FAS, BAX, TNF-α, p53, BCL-2 and Survivin genes expression in HeLa cell lines were investigated. These cells are transfected with the pcDNA3.1(+)-sea (recombinant) and pcDNA3.1(+) (non-recombinant) plasmids. The expression of BAK, FAS, BAX, TNF-α, p53, BCL-2 and Survivin genes in transfected cells were then analyzed by real time PCR. The results showed an increase in the expression of BAK, FAS, BAX, TNF-α and p53 genes and decreased BCL-2 and Survivin expression at a significant level. As compared to the HeLa cell, which did not receive the sea gene, the cells containing the toxin gene had progressed more towards apoptosis. Staphylococcal enterotoxin type A has an inhibitory effect on the growth, proliferation and invasion of breast and cervical cancerous cells through altering the expression of the genes involved in the apoptosis process. Therefore, it seems that there is a good research field for the use of this toxin in the control and treatment of such malignancies.