C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) from blue-green algae has been reported to have various pharmacological characteristics, including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. In this study, the beta-subunit of C-PC (ref to as C-PC/beta) was expressed and purified from bacteria E. coli BL-21. The recombinant C-PC/beta has been demonstrated to have anticancer properties. Under the treatment of 5 microM of the recombinant C-PC/beta, four different cancer cell lines accrued a high proliferation inhibition and apoptotic induction. The C-PC/beta interacts with membrane-associated beta-tubulin and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) has been found. Under the treatment of the C-PC/beta, depolymerization of microtubulin and actin-filament was observed. The cells underwent apoptosis with increase of Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 activities. Cell cycle was arrested at G0/G1 phase under the treatment of C-PC/beta. In addition, the nuclear level of GAPDH decreased significantly. Inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis may potentate C-PC/beta as a promising cancer prevention or therapy agent.

C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) from blue-green algae has been reported to have various pharmacological characteristics, including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. In this study, the beta-subunit of C-PC (ref to as C-PC/beta) was expressed and purified from bacteria E. coli BL-21. The recombinant C-PC/beta has been demonstrated to have anticancer properties. Under the treatment of 5 microM of the recombinant C-PC/beta, four different cancer cell lines accrued a high proliferation inhibition and apoptotic induction. The C-PC/beta interacts with membrane-associated beta-tubulin and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) has been found. Under the treatment of the C-PC/beta, depolymerization of microtubulin and actin-filament was observed. The cells underwent apoptosis with increase of Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 activities. Cell cycle was arrested at G0/G1 phase under the treatment of C-PC/beta. In addition, the nuclear level of GAPDH decreased significantly. Inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis may potentate C-PC/beta as a promising cancer prevention or therapy agent.

Le stress oxydatif joue un rôle prépondérant en tant que messager secondaire dans la régulation de nombreux processus cellulaires tels que l’apoptose, la survie et la prolifération et serait impliqué dans l’ensemble des étapes de la carcinogenèse pulmonaire. L’activité physique et la nutrition sont deux facteurs pouvant moduler le stress oxydatif et les mécanismes associés. La bétaïne et la C-Phycocyanine sont deux micronutriments reconnus pour avoir des effets antioxydants, anti-inflammatoires et antiprolifératifs. Récemment notre équipe a montré in vitro qu’un traitement en bétaïne et/ou la C-phycocyanine diminuait la viabilité des cellules A549 (carcinome pulmonaire). L’objectif général de ce travail de thèse était d’évaluer l’effet de facteurs nutritionnels (bétaïne, C-PC ou activité physique) sur la croissance tumorale de cellules A549 implantées chez le rat Nude et de déterminer les mécanismes sous-jacents. Dans un premier temps, nous avons étudié l’effet d’une supplémentation nutritionnelle (bétaïne ou C-phycocyanine) associée ou non à la pratique d’une activité physique volontaire (roue d’activité) sur l’équilibre redox et l’inflammation, chez des rats sains. Nous avons montré que la bétaïne et la C-phycocyanine augmentaient les défenses antioxydantes tandis que l’activité physique volontaire n’avait pas d’effet si elle n’était pas couplée à une supplémentation. Nous avons également mis en évidence que C-phycocyanine inhibait l’augmentation de Cox-2 musculaire induite par l’activité physique. Dans un second temps, nous avons étudié l’effet de la bétaïne et/ou la C-Phycocyanine sur la croissance des cellules A549 implantées chez des rats Nude. Nous avons montré que ces deux micronutriments associés ou non ralentissaient la croissance des tumeurs pulmonaires, au travers de mécanismes communs (activation de NF-kappaB, augmentation de la peroxydation lipidique et de l’expression de cytokine pro-inflammatoire (IL-1-beta, Cox-2 et TNF-alpha) au sein de la tumeur) et de mécanismes propres à chaque micronutriment. La C-phycocyanine a induit une diminution du ratio AKT phosphorylé / AKT total et une augmentation du ratio p38 phosphorylé / p38 total, mécanisme en faveur de l’apoptose et de l’autophagie. La bétaïne associée à la C-phycocyanine a augmenté le ratio caspase-3 / pro-caspase-3. Dans un dernier temps, nous avons évalué l’effet de l’activité physique volontaire sur la croissance tumorale des cellules A549 implantées chez des rats Nude. Nous avons mis en évidence que l’activité physique volontaire ralentissait la croissance des tumeurs pulmonaires induites, sans différence significative avec la bétaïne et/ou la C-phycocyanine. Il apparait que l’augmentation de la peroxydation lipidique, l’activation de la MAPK p38 et de NF-kappaB, et l’inhibition d’AKT, favorisant la mort cellulaire soient impliquées dans cette diminution tumorale. Un régime enrichi en bétaïne et/ou C-phycocyanine ralentit la croissance cellulaire d’adénocarcinome pulmonaire implanté chez le rat, suggérant leur intérêt dans l’action anti-carcinogène pulmonaire. L’activité physique semble jouer sur les mêmes mécanismes. Nos résultats méritent d’être confirmés par des protocoles à plus large échelle et suggèrent de possibles applications chez des patients porteurs de tumeurs pulmonaires. / Oxidative stress seems to play a crucial role as a secondary messenger in the regulation of several cellular processes such as apoptosis, survival and proliferation, and could be involved in all steps of the lung carcinogenesis (i.e. initiation, promotion and progression). Physical activity and nutrition are two factors able to modulate oxidative stress and associated mechanisms. Betaine and C-phycocyanin are two known micronutrients having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects. Previously, our team showed that betaine and/or C-phycocyanin treatment decreased the viability of A549 cells in vitro (pulmonary adenocarcinoma cell line). The main objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of nutritional factors (betaine, C-phycocyanin) or physical activity on growth of implanted A549 cells in Nude rats and to determine underlying mechanisms.Firstly, we studied the effect of nutritional supplementation (betaine or C-phycocyanin) combined or not with voluntary physical activity (wheel running) on redox balance and inflammation in healthy rats. We showed that betaine and C-phycocyanin increased antioxidant defenses, whereas voluntary physical activity did not have an effect when it was not associated with micronutrient supplementation. We also observed that C-phycocyanin inhibited physical activity-induced muscle Cox-2 activity increase.Secondly, we studied the effect of betaine and/or C-phycocyanin on growth of implanted A549 cells in Nude rats. We showed that these two micronutrients, whether associated or supplied separately, slowed down the lung tumour growth through similar mechanisms (NF-kappaB activation and increase of lipid peroxidation and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, Cox-2 et TNF-alpha) in tumour). Also, some mechanisms were specific for each micronutrient or their combination. C-phycocyanin induced a decrease of phosphorylated AKT / total AKT ratio, and an increase of phosphorylated p38 / total p38 ratio, both mechanisms promoting apoptosis and autophagy. On the other hand, betaine associated with C-phycocyanin increased caspase-3 / pro-caspase-3 ratio.Finally, we studied the effect of voluntary physical activity on growth of implanted A549 cells in Nude rats. We showed that voluntary physical activity slowed down the lung tumour growth, without significant difference if animals were supplied with betaine or/and C-phycocyanin. It seems that the increase of lipid peroxidation, NF-kappaB and p38 activation, and AKT inhibition, all having a role in promotion of a cell death, are responsible for the tumour growth slowdown following the physical activity. In conclusion, diet enriched with betaine or/and C-phycocyanin slows down the growth of pulmonary adenocarcinoma cells implanted in rats, suggesting their interest in anti-cancer activity. Physical activity seems to act on similar mechanisms as these micronutrients. Our results have to be confirmed with further studies, but are already suggesting a potential application in lung cancer patients.