BLUE-GREEN ALGAE TOXINS AND LIVER CANCER

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Blue-green algae toxins and liver cancer

Microcystins (MCYSTs) isolated from blue-green algae, are hepatotoxic polypeptides. It will induce severe intrahepatic hemorrhage and liver necrosis at low concentrations in rats and mice. MCYST-LR is one of MCYSTs which consists of 2 variable L- amino acids (leucine and arginine), 3 D-amino acids and 2 unusual amino acids (including Adda). MCYSTs bind to protein phosphatase 1 and 2A, and strongly inhibit their activities. The resultant increase of phosphoprotein was referred to be involved in tumor-promoting activity in liver. According to the above results and animal study, MCYST-LR is a potent liver tumor-promoter. There were 9 positive from 30 samples of pond-ditch water in high endemic county-Haimen by high-peformance liquid chromatograph and 3 already confirmed by liquid chromograph/mass spectrometer. The quantities of MCYSTs were different between drinking water of liver cancer cases and controls groups (0.122±0.057 and 0.072±0.044 μg/200ml respectively) by ELISA. It is not easy to remove by conventional water treatment procedures. The relationship between MCYSTs and oncogenes and anti-oncogenes are under studying.