Pichia fermentans originates apoptosis in human oral squamous cell carcinoma by over-expressing BAX and CASP 9 genes.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the oral cavity. Probiotics have often been considered as effective anti-tumoral candidates. This study aimed to investigate the role of Pichia fermentans YSH secretion metabolites on the induction of apoptosis in SCC. Cytotoxicity, apoptotic effects, and visualization DNA damage were evaluated by MTT, flow cytometry, and DAPI staining assays, respectively. Real-time PCR was employed for evaluation of the mechanism of cellular apoptosis. P. fermentans YSH secretions (IC50) showed cellular cytotoxicity in human tongue squamous carcinoma (HSC4, RRID:CVCL_1289) cells (85% apoptosis) similar to the cytotoxicity of cisplatin whereas only 21% apoptosis was observed in human epithelial normal (KDR, RRID:CVCL_9V14) cells. The prophylactic efficacy of reference yeast, which regarded as a reference, was not comparable to P. fermentans YSH illustrating strain-dependent properties of bioactivities on oral disease control and prevention. According to our result, the main cytotoxicity is related to apoptosis mechanisms induced by apoptosis genes inducing BAX and CASP. However, follow-up researches should be performed to recognize the compounds to be utilized as effective anticancer therapeutics.