Anti-Cancer Effects of Carnosine—A Dipeptide Molecule |
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| Authors: | Monica D. Prakash Sarah Fraser Jennifer C. Boer Magdalena Plebanski Barbora de Courten Vasso Apostolopoulos |
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| Affiliation: | 1.Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3030, Australia; (M.D.P.); (S.F.);2.Translational Immunology and Nanotechnology Research Program, School of Health and Biomedical Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia; (J.C.B.); (M.P.);3.Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia |
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| Abstract: | ![]()
Background: Carnosine is a dipeptide molecule (β-alanyl-l-histidine) with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-glycation, and chelating properties. It is used in exercise physiology as a food supplement to increase performance; however, in vitro evidence suggests that carnosine may exhibit anti-cancer properties. Methods: In this study, we investigated the effect of carnosine on breast, ovarian, colon, and leukemic cancer cell proliferation. We further examined U937 promonocytic, human myeloid leukemia cell phenotype, gene expression, and cytokine secretion to determine if these are linked to carnosine’s anti-proliferative properties. Results: Carnosine (1) inhibits breast, ovarian, colon, and leukemic cancer cell proliferation; (2) upregulates expression of pro-inflammatory molecules; (3) modulates cytokine secretion; and (4) alters U937 differentiation and phenotype. Conclusion: These effects may have implications for a role for carnosine in anti-cancer therapy. |
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| Keywords: | carnosine, anti-cancer, cytokine, β -alanyl-l-histidine, immunomodulation |
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