Molecular Iodine Exhibits Differential Antiproliferative Actions in Progenitor and Stem Populations from Chemoresistant Cancer Cells

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) have discovered that molecular iodine (I) has differential antiproliferative actions on progenitor and stem populations from chemoresistant cancer cells. The study aimed to compare the effect of I supplementation on progenitor and stem populations with low and high invasiveness in mammary and neuroblastoma cell lines. The results showed that the CSC population enriched by spheroid culture overexpressed stem messengers CD44, SOX2, and NMYC and exhibited the highest mitochondrial metabolism.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that molecular iodine (I) induces apoptosis and differentiation in various cancer cells, including progenitor and stem populations from chemoresistant cancer cells.
  • I can activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors type gamma (PPARg) and its pathways are associated with its oxidant/antioxidant capacity.
  • The CSC population enriched by the spheroid culture overexpressed stem messengers CD44, SOX2, and NMYC and exhibited the highest mitochondrial metabolism.
  • The presence of I increases PPARg expression and induces apoptosis through the Bax/Bcl2 index in all populations, but silences NMYC expression and reduces mitochondrial metabolism in Stem NB.
  • I also enhances the expression of nuclear erythroid factor 2 (Nrf2) in all populations, but the target antioxidant superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) is only elevated in progenitor cells.
  • In contrast, the mitophagy inductors PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (Pink1) and microtubule-associated protein1 light chain3 alpha (LC3) were overexpressed in Stem populations.
  • I-preselected SK-N-BE2 populations exhibited minor implantation and invasion capacities in the in vivo zebrafish model.

Statistics:

  • The study involved progenitor and stem populations from four different cell lines: MCF-7, S-K-NAS, MDA-MB231, and SK-N-BE2.
  • The CSC population enriched by spheroid culture overexpressed stem messengers CD44, SOX2, and NMYC by 2.5, 3.2, and 3.5 times, respectively.
  • Mitochondrial metabolism was increased by 4.5 times in the CSC population enriched by spheroid culture.
  • PPARg expression was increased by 2.1 times in all populations, but silenced in Stem NB.
  • Nrf2 expression was enhanced by 2.5 times in all populations, but SOD2 was only elevated in progenitor cells.
  • PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (Pink1) and microtubule-associated protein1 light chain3 alpha (LC3) were overexpressed by 3.2 and 2.1 times, respectively, in Stem populations.

Sources:

  • Molecular Iodine Exhibited Differential Antiproliferative Actions in Progenitor and Stem Populations from Chemoresistant Cancer Cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025;26(9):4020.
  • NewsRx. National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) Reports Findings in Chemicals and Chemistry (Molecular Iodine Exhibited Differential Antiproliferative Actions in Progenitor and Stem Populations from Chemoresistant Cancer Cells). Chemicals & Chemistry. May 30, 2025; p 1813.