Modulation of transforming growth factor beta2 (TGF-beta2) by inositol hexaphosphate in colon carcinogenesis in rats

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate modulation in the expression of Transforming growth factor beta2 (TGF-beta2) in short-term colon carcinogenesis. METHODS: 64 male rats was used, comprising 4 groups of 16 animals each: group 1 received Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) and azoxymethane (AOM); group 2, AOM alone; group 3, IP6 alone; group 4 was used as control. Groups 1 and 3 were given 1% IP6 in drinking water for 6 weeks. AOM was administered subcutaneously at weeks 3 and 4 of the experiment at 20 mg/kg of body weight each week. Immunohistochemical processing was performed with the use of anti-TGF-beta2 primary antibodies in right colon samples and quantitation of TGF-beta2 as percentage of expression, through computer-assisted image processing. RESULTS: mean values of TGF-beta2 expression were 9.0 ± 3.9% for group 4 (control), 12.7 ± 4.0% for group 3 (IP6), 19.3 ± 6.2% for group 2 (AOM), and 13.1 ± 5.3% for group 1 (IP6+AOM). The value of p was calculated as 0.0001 for a 5% or lower significance level. CONCLUSION: the experiment revealed a significant increase in TGF-beta2 expression in right colon with the administration of AOM, and a significant decrease in TGF-beta2 expression when IP6 was administered with AOM.