Effects of Sericin on Promoting Proliferation and Inhibiting Apoptosis of Mammalian Cells

摘要

We have previously reported that sericin improves proliferation of all cells tested, as well suppressing cell death induced by heat stress, implying that sericin inhibits apoptosis. In sericin treatment, caspase7/3 activity, executioners for inducingapoptosis, was decreased, while caspase9 activity was not. In order to analyze the mode of action of sericin in detail, the gene expression pattern was studied by transcriptome analysis using cDNA microarrays. The expression of several genes was significantly upregulated, and others were downregulated by sericin treatment. Among the detected genes, some growth- and apoptosis-related genes may be involved in the proliferative and survival effects of sericin.