Milk can help in the fight against cancer
Last reviewed: 14.08.2021
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Experts always associated milk consumption with improving health, reducing the risk of developing diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Swedish scientists from Lund University found that thanks to the milk protein contained in lactoferricin 4-14 (Lfcin4-14), milk is able to suppress the growth of colon cancer cells, prolonging the cell cycle for an extended period of time before the chromosomes replicate.
The results of research scientists published in the October issue of the journal "Journal of Dairy Science."
In the course of research, specialists subjected colon cancer cells to radiation, this resulted in DNA damage. In the next stage of the experiment, scientists have grown the cells, in the first case using lactoferricin 4-14, and in the second - without using it in the process of cell growth.
To understand the mechanism by which lactoferricin 4-14 reduces DNA damage, researchers evaluated the levels of several proteins involved in the cell cycle process, DNA repair and cell death.
They found an increase in flap endonuclease-1, a protein associated with DNA synthesis, a decrease in B-cell lymphoma 2 interacting with protein X, which is associated with cell death, and a decrease in H2AX, indicating more effective DNA repair.
"These changes in expression confirm our hypothesis that exposure to lactoferricin 4-14 has led to an increase in DNA cell repair," says lead author Dr. Stina Oredsson.
Dr. Oredsson notes that in general, cancer cells have defects in the mechanisms of DNA repair. Thus, lactoferricin 4-14 can produce a greater effect on normal cells than on cancer cells.
"Our data indicate that the effect of lactoferricin 4-14 on the extension of the cell cycle can help prevent cancer with the help of milk. However, in order to finally draw any conclusions, it is necessary to conduct further studies of the effect of this protein, but already with the help of other methods, "summarizes Dr. Oredsson.
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