The Effects of Colchicum baytopiorum on Regulatory Genes of Apoptotic and Autophagic Cell Death in HeLa Cells

Background: The natural products have increasing important for the development of anticancer agents. Colchicum baytopiorum C.D. Brickell (C. baytopiorum), an endemic species for Turkey, contains colchicine and its derivatives. Stimulation of apoptotic and autophagy-mediated cell deaths are effective strategy for anticancer therapies. Aim: The aim of the study is to determine the role of the extract on both apoptotic and autophagic cell death in HeLa cell line. Methods: The cell viability of C. baytopiorum (0.1 mg/ml) was determined by MTT assay. Active caspase-3 and t-Bid expressions were evaluated by immunohistochemical method. The mRNA expression of apoptotic regulatory genes (Bcl-xL, Bid, Bad, PUMA, NOXA, Caspase-3, -8, -9, Fas, FADD, TRADD, TRAF2, TNF, TNFR1), autophagic cell death related genes (Atg5-12, Beclin-1, DAPK), and also both autophagic and apoptotic cell death regulatory genes (Bif-1 and BNIP-3) were investigated by qRT-PCR. Results: We determined that the expressions of both apoptotic and autophagic regulatory genes were significantly increased in the treatment group compared to control group. Also, we showed that C. baytopiorum crude extract induces the cross-connection between apoptotic and autophagic cell deaths in HeLa cells. Conclusion: We suggested that this endemic plant extract seems to be a new promising therapeutic approach in cancer.