Objective: To assess the antitumor activity of the novel chitinase produced by fermented, isolated Trichoderma viride in a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) male rat model. Methods: Diethyl-nitrosamine induction combined with ionizing radiation exposure was used to establish the HCC rat model. All rats were divided into 4 groups: the control group, the chitinase group, the HCC group, and the HCC + chitinase group. The antiproliferative effect of chitinase was evaluated in human HCC cells. The effect of chitinase in vivo on oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress chaperones, autophagy markers, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, AMPK pathway expression, and apoptotic indicators was determined and confirmed by histological examination. Results: Chitinase significantly inhibited the viabilities of HepG2 cells. Moreover, in the Wistar male rat model of HCC, chitinase decreased ATP levels, modulated endoplasmic reticulum stress, mediated autophagy factors, and promoted apoptosis. Conclusions: Chitinase might play a role in the apoptosis as well as autophagy pathways and may act as a potential tumor suppressor.
Nabeel et al. (Sun,) studied this question.