Microcystin-leucine arginine induces the proliferation of cholangiocytes and cholangiocarcinoma cells through the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

• Published in: Heliyon 2024-05, Vol.10 (9), p.e30104-e30104, Article e30104
• Main Authors: Kongsintaweesuk, Suppakrit, Klungsaeng, Sirinapha, Intuyod, Kitti, Techasen, Anchalee, Pairojkul, Chawalit, Luvira, Vor, Pinlaor, Somchai, Pinlaor, Porntip
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bile duct cancer; Carcinogenesis; Cyanobacteria; Cyanotoxin; Environmental exposure
• ISSN: 2405-8440; 2405-8440
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30104

Microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR) is a cyanobacterial hepatotoxic toxin found in water sources worldwide, including in northeastern Thailand, where opisthorchiasis-associated cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is most prevalent. MC-LR is a potential carcinogen; however, its involvement in liver fluke-associated CCA remains ambiguous. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effect of MC-LR on the progression of CCA via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in vitro. Cell division, migration, cell cycle transition, and MC-LR transporter expression were evaluated in vitro through MTT assay, wound healing assay, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. Following a 24-h treatment of cultured cells with 1, 10, 100, and 1,000 nM of MC-LR, the proliferative effect of MC-LR on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was investigated using immunoblotting and qRT-PCR analysis. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine β-catenin expression in CCA tissue compared to adjacent tissue. Human immortalized cholangiocyte cells (MMNK-1) and a human cell line established from opisthorchiasis-associated CCA (KKU-213B) expressed the MC-LR transporter and internalized MC-LR. Exposure to 10 nM and 100 nM of MC-LR notably enhanced cells division and migration in both cell lines (P