Soybean Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor (BBI): identification of the mechanisms of BBI suppressive effect on growth of two adenocarcinoma cell lines: AGS and HT29.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor (BBI) has been well known to suppress the emergence and progression of different cancers. In the present study, the mechanisms by which BBI alters cancers have been addressed. To reach this goal, the effects of BBI on proliferation of and VEGF secretion by two cell lines (AGS: gastric adenocarcinoma and HT-29: colorectal adenocarcinoma) and also BBI effect on MMP-2 and 9 synthesis/secretion by AGS cells was evaluated.

METHODS

ELISA method was used to assess VEGF concentration and gelatin zymography was used to address MMP-2 and 9 production/excretion.

RESULTS

BBI had powerful inhibitory effect on proliferation and VEGF secretion by both cell lines. In addition, inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 secreted by AGS cells suggests BBI as a potent inhibitor of gastric cancer progression. On the other hand, the results indicated that inhibition of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF secretion is one of the mechanisms of anti-angiogenic effect of BBI.

CONCLUSION

BBI expresses powerful suppressive effect on tumor progression of two prevalent cancers: gastric adenocarcinoma and colorectal adenocarcinoma.