The Effect of Thymoquinone on the Protein Levels of PLA2G7, UCP2, and NEDD4L Genes Associated with Lipid Droplets Formation in Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Objective: Prostate cancer (PCa) patients suffer severe side effects of standard treatment beside the resistance to castration. PCa cells shows increased lipogenesis. Thymoquinone (TQ) inhibits cell proliferation, metastasis, and invasion. However, there was no study on the effect of TQ on the levels of NEDDL4, PLA2G7, and UCP2 lipid droplets (LD) related proteins. Hence, the study aims to investigate the impact of TQ on PLA2G7, UCP2, and NEDD4L proteins on DU145 and PC3 cell lines. Materials and Methods: Cells were cultured and treated with TQ with a IC50 of 60 µM and 80 µM for DU145 and PC3, respectively. PLA2G7, UCP2, and NEDD4L levels were measured using the ELISA. Results: TQ has significantly increased the level of NEDD4L (p