Extract of Lactobacillus plantarum strain 06CC2 induces JNK/p38 MAPK pathway-mediated apoptosis through endoplasmic reticulum stress in Caco2 colorectal cancer cells

Colorectal cancer is a multi-factorial disease involving genetic, environmental and lifestyle risk factors. In recent years, many changes in the bacterial composition of the intestinal microflora have been reported in colorectal cancer, suggesting the involvement of the intestinal microflora in the development and progression of colorectal cancer. Along with these reports, research on lactic acid bacteria that have a beneficial effect on the human body for the purpose of improving the intestinal environment and treating intestinal diseases has advanced. Among these studies, biogenics (defined as a component derived from lactic acid bacteria that acts directly on diseases regardless of the state of intestinal microflora) is a recent concept derived from the work on probiotics. Based on this concept, it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of various components derived from lactic acid bacteria in the treatment to diseases from and apply them in prevention and treatment. In this study, we investigated the antitumor effect of an extract obtained from Lactobacillus plantarum strain 06CC2 on colorectal cancer cells. In in vitro experiments, the extract derived from Lactobacillus plantarum 06CC2 significantly suppressed the proliferation of Caco2 colorectal cancer cells in comparison to control and non-cancer cells. Furthermore, we found that endoplasmic reticulum stress and the JNK/p38 MAPK signaling system are involved in the induction of apoptosis. These findings indicate the direct antitumor effect of the Lactobacillus plantarum 06CC2 extract on Caco2 colorectal cancer cells, and that this extract may have potential application as a biogenics.