Acid Water Triggers Cancer Cell Warning Signals in Lab Study
- Authors
- Masafumi Kusunoki, Eri Sata, Kensuke Nishio, Takayoshi Tanaka, Tetsuya Nishida, Naoyuki Sugano, Shuichi Sato, Masatake Asano
- Journal
- International Journal of Medical Sciences
- Year
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.7150/ijms.26186
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- Body System
- Oral Cavity
TL;DR
A study found that a type of water known as acid-electrolyzed functional water causes cancer cells from the mouth to release a specific protein that signals danger to nearby cells, potentially affecting the cells' behavior.
Key Finding
Acid-electrolyzed functional water caused oral cancer cells to release EMMPRIN, a protein that triggered surrounding immune cells to produce inflammatory molecules and growth factors associated with cancer progression.
Summary
This laboratory study examined how acid-electrolyzed functional water affects cancer cells from the mouth. Researchers found that this water triggered cancer cells to release a protein called EMMPRIN, which then signaled immune cells to produce substances that promote inflammation and tumor growth. The study was conducted in cell cultures (not in animals or humans), so it shows only what happens in a test tube.
Practical Takeaway
This is a preliminary cell-culture study with no human testing, so it cannot be applied to health recommendations. The findings raise questions about potential effects of electrolyzed water on cancer cells, but much more research—including animal and human studies—would be needed before drawing any conclusions about safety or health impacts.
Abstract
Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) secretion was induced in the oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line HSC3 cell by acid-electrolyzed functional water (FW) stimulation. Augmented EMMPRIN secretion was not under transcriptional control; rather, it was derived from the intracellular storages. EMMPRIN secretion was also induced under oxidative stress and accompanied by the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The molecules released from cells undergoing necrosis are called as alarmins, and the secretion of IL-1α, a typical alarmin, was induced by FW stimulation and oxidative stress. Intracellular localization was examined by cell fractionation. A significant amount of EMMPRIN was localized in the triton X-100 and DNase sensitive fractions; the levels were drastically reduced following FW treatment. The function of the released EMMPRIN was examined using the monocytic cell line THP1. Culture supernatant derived from FW-treated HSC3 cells induced the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 1, 2, 8, 9, 13, and 14, platelet-derived growth factor, and interleukin-8. In contrast, vascular endothelial growth factor expression was reduced. Induction of these factors was abolished following eliminating of EMMPRIN by immunoprecipitation. These results indicate that EMMPRIN might be considered as a type of alarmin that transduces danger signals to the surrounding cells.