Anticancer agent 6-MITC at extremely low dosage can control seizures by stabilizing membrane excitability system in mutant EL mice

Abstract

Recently, attention has been focused on the anticancer properties of an aromatic component; 6- (methylsulfinyl) hexyl isothiocyanate (6-MITC), in a typical Japanese spice, wasabi. 6-MITC shows selective sensitivity to human breast cancer and melanoma cell lines in 39 human cancer cell lines. Furthermore, 6-MITC is active against pulmonary metastasis of B16-BL6 mouse melanoma cells. In the present study, we investigated the antiepileptic effects of 6-MITC using epileptic mutant EL mice. To explore the mechanisms of antiepileptic effects of 6-MITC, we analyzed the changes in cell cycle reentry (CCR), cytokine systems, and GABAA receptor subunits during epileptogenesis in EL mice. using semi-quantitative Western blotting techniques. Our results suggest that the antiepileptic mechanisms of 6-MITC is related to repair of abnoimal plasticity, which is supported by CCR inactivation, together with activation of endogenous cytokines as well as induction of extra-synaptic GABAA receptor subunits. both of which play antiepileptic roles.