High fructose Corn Syrup recast glucose transporter-5, Wnt, NF-κB signalling and mitochondrial apoptosis in an animal model of oral oncogenesis

Background Wnt signalling pathway, is mediated by members of T-cell factor (TCF) transcription factors family, is essential for the control of epithelial cell proliferation and death. Glucose transporter-5 (GLUT5), fructose-specific transporter, is also important in allowing transcellular fructose uptake. The goal of this work to determine how the High fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) affected Wingless-related integration site (Wnt) and Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signalling in the 7,12 –dimethylbenzaanthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis (HBPCs) model. Methods Four groups of hamsters were created. For 12 weeks, 0.5 % DMBA was applied 3 times/week to the left side buccal pouches of the hamsters in groups (2 & 4). Additionally, the animals in groups (3 & 4) were given through drinking water of HFCS 25 %. The control animals were from group 1. By using western blot analysis, signalling network markers of the GLUT-5, Wnt, TCF-4, GSK-3β and NF-κB as well as mitochondrial apoptotic pathway marker expression B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X (Bax) and cyclooxygenase – 2 (COX-2) was assessed. Results Drinking water uptake of 25% HFCS encouraged progress of HBP carcinomas by constitutive stimulating of the Wnt pathway via GSK-3β overexpression. HFCS suppressed Wnt signalling which contributed the NF-κB attenuation and changes the signalling markers in apoptotic network. Conclusions Our hypothesis suggests a mechanically crosstalk between Wnt and NF-κB signalling pathways in HBP carcinomas that is developed by HFCS. HFCS that targets the Wnt pathway and its downstream signalling mediators could be additive reason for cancer development.