Expression of caspase-14 reduces tumorigenicity of skin cancer cells

Stephen Hsu, Haiyan Qin, Douglas Dickinson, Ding Xie, Wendy B Bollag, Hubert Stöppler, Henna Pearl, Anna Vu, Margaretta Watkins, Meredith Koehler, George Schuster

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) possesses anti-carcinogenic properties and was found to induce terminal differentiation in epidermal keratinocytes. Caspase-14, a member of the caspase family associated with epithelial cell differentiation, planned cell death, and barrier formation, is induced by EGCG in normal human epidermal keratinocytes but not in cancer cells. Materials and methods: A human epidermoid cancer cell line, A431, was co-transfected with a caspase-14-expressing pCMV vector and a GFP/ neo-expressing pCMV vector. Cell growth and tumorigenicity of the stable transfectant were determined in comparison to cells transfected with the control GFP/neo-expressing pCMV vector. Results: Expression of exogenous caspase-14 led to growth inhibition and reduced the tumorigenicity of A431 cells. Conclusion: Pending future studies, caspase-14 could be used as a novel approach to skin cancer therapy via gene delivery systems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)279-283
Number of pages5
JournalIn Vivo
Volume21
Issue number2
StatePublished - 2007

Keywords

  • Caspase-14, A431
  • EGCG
  • Green tea polyphenols
  • Skin cancer

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research
  • Pharmacology

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