Effect of Quercetin and Kaempferol on the Genomic and Proteomic Components of Oral Cancer Cells

Abstract

The present study was carried out with the aim of analyzing the influence of the plant newlineflavonoids, quercetin and kaempferol, on the oral cancer cells, at the genomic and proteomic newlinelevel. The study was carried out in three phases. In the first phase, the effect of quercetin and newlinekaempferol, on the viability of KB oral cancer cells was assessed using MTT and SRB assays newlineand various staining methods. As a comparative control, normal human buccal cells were newlineemployed in the study. Flow cytometry, following PI staining, was carried out to study the newlineability of quercetin and kaempferol to influence cell cycle events in KB cells. The results of newlinePhase I revealed that the flavonoids exerted a differential effect by selectively killing KB oral newlinecancer cells. In addition, it was found that treatment with the compounds resulted in arrest of newlinecell cycle at G2-M phase in KB cells. In the second phase, the modulation in the expression of newlinecancer-related genes in KB cells after exposure to quercetin / kaempferol was quantitatively newlineanalyzed using qRT-PCR. The results showed that the flavonoids were able to influence the newlinegenes in all the cancer-associated pathways studied. In the third phase, the modulation in newlineprotein expression was studied by 1D and 2D PAGE analysis. The results revealed marked newlinedifferences in the protein profile of the KB cells treated with the flavonoids. The functional newlineinteractions between the proteins coded by the key genes modulated upon quercetin / newlinekaempferol treatment in KB cells were also studied. The analysis revealed very strong newlineinteractions between proteins of different pathways, indicating a complex interplay between newlinethe molecules. Thus, the present study unraveled the multiple genes and the interactions newlinebetween their protein products, which may play a role in the action of the flavonoids, newlinequercetin and kaempferol, against oral cancer cells.