Dandelion polysaccharide (DP) can potentially reduce iron overload in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by downregulating hepcidin levels and inhibiting the IL-6-activated JAK-STAT signaling pathway.
In the study, researchers focused on clarifying the effects of dandelion polysaccharide (DP) on iron metabolism and the mechanisms underlying these effects. The basis of their study was earlier findings that indicated a correlation between iron overload and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), conditions that their previous studies showed could be managed with DP through causing cell cycle arrest and inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. To get their results, researchers used RNA sequencing and western blot testing on hepatoma cells and grafted tumors subjected to DP treatment.
The results of the mentioned testing methods showed that DP could lower the iron burden in hepatoma cells. It was further discovered that DP had the ability influence hepcidin, a significant regulator in iron metabolism, expression levels. Hepcidin was found in higher levels in HCC tumor tissues compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues. But, with DP treatment, expression of hepcidin was downregulated in both hepatoma cells and the liver of the mouse model used. These findings led to the conclusion that the DP was effective in inhibiting the IL-6-activated JAK-STAT signaling pathway.
