The edible dietary fiber of Lentinus β-glucan targets PRSS3 to suppress progression of human colon cancer

Lentinus β-glucan (LBG) could directly interact with the human colon cancer cells. • PRSS3 was identified as the potential target of LBG. • LBG inhibits colon cancer cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis by targeting PRSS3. Lentinus β-glucan (LBG), an edible dietary fiber, has promising anticancer potential. However, the anticancer mechanism remains poorly understood. Herein, we focus on the anti-colon cancer mechanism of four LBGs with different molecular weights. As a result, LBGs could directly interact with the human colon cancer cells and were even ingested into cells. Mass spectrometry results reveal that the protein interacting with LBGs was most likely PRSS3. Molecular docking simulation further confirmed LBGs interacted with PRSS3 through hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, and hydrophobic interactions. In vitro results demonstrate that LBGs down-regulated PRSS3 expression in colon carcinoma cells, as well as decreased cell viability. Meanwhile, in vivo studies reveal that LBGs targeted the carcinogenic promoter of PRSS3, leading to cancer cell proliferation inhibition and apoptosis promotion. This study provides new insights that LBG can be used for clinical colon cancer treatment as a PRSS3 inhibitor without system toxicity. Download: Download high-res image (245KB) Download: Download full-size image