2023 Volume 57 Issue 1 Pages 89-97
Certain siderophores have recently been reported to inhibit the growth of cancerous cells. Here, we assessed the cytotoxic effects of two siderophores, deferriferrichrysin (Dfcy) and bisucaberin, on the human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines HSC-3 and SAS. The iron-chelating ability of Dfcy and bisucaberin was measured using an iron assay kit utilizing the ferrozine chromogenic method. Cell viability was measured using the WST-8 assay, and caspase-3 activity was determined using a caspase-3 assay kit. Apoptotic, anti-apoptotic, and cell cycle markers were assessed by western blot analysis. Dfcy chelated ferric iron in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, 10 μg/mL bisucaberin chelated approximately 75% of the iron. Dfcy and bisucaberin inhibited the proliferation of HSC-3 and SAS cells in a dose-dependent manner. Bisucaberin-treated SAS cells exhibited significantly increased caspase-3 activation. Cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) was also increased in bisucaberin-treated HSC-3 and SAS cells and in Dfcy-treated SAS cells. Bisucaberin treatments alone upregulated cleaved caspase-3 in SAS cells. However, Dfcy had no effect on OSCC cell apoptosis. The results show that bisucaberin exerts potential anticancer effects against SAS cells by inducing apoptosis. (J Osaka Dent Univ 2023; 57: 89-97)
