A comparison of the gene expression profiles and pathway network analyses after treatment of Prostate cancer cell lines with different Ganoderma lucidum based extracts

Authors

  • Chi H.J. Kao Discipline of Nutrition, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142
  • Karen S Bishop Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142
  • Dug Yeo Han Nutrigenomics New Zealand, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142
  • Pamela M Murray Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142
  • Marcus P. Glucina NZFOCUS (NZ) Ltd., Auckland
  • Gareth J. Marlow Nutrigenomics New Zealand, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142
  • Lynnette R Ferguson Discipline of Nutrition, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31989/ffhd.v4i5.12

Abstract

Background: Ganoderma lucidum is a type of fungus commonly consumed in Asia for the promotion of health and longevity. The observed biological activity of G. lucidum includes anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects which may be useful in the treatment and prevention of cancer and other chronic diseases. G. lucidum grows under conditions which range from tropical to temperate and has a different physiology depending on the geographical region in which it is grown. For this reason, the health benefits may vary depending on the form of G. lucidum and the environmental conditions to which it was exposed. This led us to investigate the effect of wildly grown G. lucidum, from the Himalayan region versus other commercially available G. lucidum products, on two human cancer cell lines.

Methods: Extraction of the bioactive components found in G. lucidum is essential, as the fungus is tough and indigestible. Four different Ganoderma extracts were prepared. Thereafter, the extracts were tested on two human prostate cancer cell lines, and the IC50s were determined. This was followed by the use of Affymetrix GeneChip® PrimeView™ Human Gene Expression Arrays to identify the changes in gene expression due to the treatment of prostate cancer cell lines (PC3 and DU145) with Ganoderma extracts. Several key genes identified with Affymetrix analysis were validated using RT-PCR.

Results and Discussion: We found that all the Ganoderma extracts showed growth inhibition in the cancer cell lines tested. Using Affymetrix microarray analysis, we identified four main biologically active pathways: cell cycle control/apoptosis, cell-cell adhesion, DNA repair, and inflammatory /immune response, where activity was influenced by the Ganoderma extracts used. Using RT-PCR, we tested ten genes associated with all four pathways. The RT-PCR results supported our findings in the Affymetrix analysis, i.e. that G. lucidum extracts have an anti-inflammatory and cell cycle effect and therefore may have long term health benefits. These effects were specific to the extract tested.

Key Words: Ganoderma lucidum, PC3, DU145, gene expression, Affymetrix, pathways, RT-PCR

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Published

2014-07-27

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 5 (2014): May 2014

Section

Research Articles

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