Apoptotic and anti-metastatic effect of chrysin on CD44⁺ cancer stem cells from SW480 colorectal cancer cell line

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are very important for colorectal cancer (CRC) because they help the cancer start, spread, and metastasise. This makes them a key target for making better cancer treatments. This study explores the effects of chrysin on the CSCs in the SW480 cell line to examine its potential impact on key signalling pathways involved in cell survival and proliferation, shedding light on its therapeutic potential in colon cancer.
Methods: Chrysin's cytotoxicity was assessed on CD44⁺ CSCs using an MTT test. The AnnexinV/PI test was used to evaluate the apoptotic effects. The expression levels of Caspase-3 as well as Ki-67 were also investigated using flow cytometry. The scratch assay was used to assess cell migration. ROS production was determined using the DCFH-DA.
Results: In the following of the MTT assay, 75 μM of chrysin was selected for further experiments. The findings indicated that chrysin significantly enhanced apoptosis in CD44⁺ CSCs with the percentage of 35.49 ± 0.81 %. The Ki-Caspase 3 study revealed a decrease in Ki-67 expression and an increase in Caspase-3 expression. Moreover, it was indicated that chrysin significantly impeded wound healing and restricted migration in the treated CSCs. Chrysin was found to increase ROS generation in the treated cells.
Conclusion: Chrysin effectively induced apoptosis on CD44⁺ CSCs by enhancing Caspase-3 expression and reducing Ki-67 expression, indicating its role in promoting cell death and inhibiting proliferation. Additionally, chrysin impaired wound healing, restricted cell migration, and increased ROS generation, highlighting its potential as an anti-cancer agent against CSCs in CRC via targeting multiple cellular processes.

Keywords: Anti-cancer, Apoptosis, Cancer stem cell, Chrysin, Colorectal cancer, ROS generation