The influence of phytic acid on TNF-alpha and its receptors genes' expression in colon cancer Caco-2 cells.

Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6, phytic acid) is a naturally occurring carbohydrate abundantly present in high-fiber diets and it is also contained in almost all mammalian cells. It plays an important role in signal transduction, cell proliferation and differentiation. Some natural substances have been shown to elicit an impact on the expression of TNF-alpha and its receptors in cancer cells. TNF-alpha represents cytokine very often deregulated at the level of both gene expression and signal transmission through TNF-alpha receptors (TNFRI and TNFRII). The aim of the present study was to analyze the IP6 influence on the transcription of genes coding for TNF-alpha and its receptors in human colon cancer cells line Caco-2 Real-time QRT-PCR based on TaqMan methodology was applied to analyze quantitatively the transcript levels of these genes. Three concentrations (1, 2.5 and 5 mM) of IP6 were used for Caco-2 cells stimulation for 1, 6, 12 and 24 h. The results showed that IP6 modulated the expression of the listed genes at transcription level in a dose and time dependent manner. The enhanced TNFRI and decreased TNF-alpha and TNFRII transcription in Caco-2 cells stimulated for 12 h with IP6 seems to be the presumptive evidence for anti-inflammatory and antitumor activity of IP6.