Effect of citric acid on p53 and p21 genes expression of the human colorectal Adenocarcinoma cell line

Despite the advances in treatment of colorectal adenocarcinoma patients continue to have low survival. Citric acid is considered as a physiological inhibitor of enzymes involved in glycolysis pathway to remove cancer cells. The p53 and p21 gene products are involved in cell removal due to their pro-apoptotic properties. In this study, the effect of citric acid on p53 and p21 genes expression of the human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (HT29) examined.

In this study, HT-29 cells were treated by different concentrations of citric acid (400, 800 and 1600 μg/ml) and the expression of P53 and p21 genes were examined after 24 and 48 hours. And results were analyzed by Real Time PCR. Statistical analysis was accomplished by ANOVA tests using SPSS 18 software.  

According to results, treatment with citric acid increased the expression of p21 (P=.044) and p53 (P=.036) genes in some experimental groups (800 and 1600 μg/ml for p53gen and 1600 μg/ml for p21gene) compared to the control group.

Citric acid seems to be useful as an anticancer agent for the treatment of colorectal adenocarcinoma by inducing expression of genes that involved in the apoptosis pathway.