18E-20

R. R. BANSODE and J. N. Losso. Dept. of Food Science, Louisiana State Univ. Agricultural Center, 111 Food Science Bldg., Baton Rouge, LA 70803-4200

Glucosylceramide (GlcCer) is a metabolite of ceramide, present in bovine milk. Its concentration in milk ranges from 6 to 11 mg/L. Dietary supplementation with milk GlcCer has been shown to inhibit colon tumorigenesis in mice. GlcCer belongs to the group of sphingolipids, which has recently caught the attention of scientists because of its potential role in cancer therapeutics. Sphingolipids serve as anchor proteins in membranes and participate in cell recognition processes, growth regulation, cell differentiation, apoptosis, and reception of hormones, growth factors and cytokines. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of milk-based glucosylceramide (GlcCer) against human colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cell lines both in vitro and in vivo. Caco-2 cells from ATCC were subjected to dose dependent study ranging from 50 nM to 100 mM under normal condition and reduced oxygen (hypoxic) conditions. The effect of GlcCer was determined by evaluating in vitro technique for cell viability studies such as cell proliferation assay, angiogenic factor techniques such as cell migration assay using the modified Boyden Chamber and VEGF expression involving VEGF ELISA assay. HIF-1a levels in hypoxic cells were measured by western blotting. The level of cathepsin-D was determined by ELISA. The in vivo anti-angiogenic activity of milk GlcCer was determined by the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Our results showed that GlcCer at a concentration as low as 5 mM, GlcCer inhibited cell proliferation and migration. VEGF and cathepsin D expression was inhibited. HIF-1a was down-regulated to undetectable levels. This study establishes the role of milk based GlcCer as a potential bioactive dietary component that may have inhibitory activity against colon cancer.

Session 18E, Nutraceutical & Functional Foods: General I
2:00 PM - 5:30 PM, Sunday PM Room Hall I-2

2005 IFT Annual Meeting, July 15-20 - New Orleans, Louisiana