Ascorbic acid as serine protease inhibitor in lung cancer cell line and human serum albumin.

Serine proteases (SPs) are distributed among all living cells accounting for almost one-third of all proteases. Dysregulation of SPs during inflammation and/or infection can result in devastating consequences, such as skin and lung inflammation, neuroinflammation, arthritis, as well as metastasis of cancerous cells. Such activities are tightly regulated by various inhibitors known as serine protease inhibitors (SERPIN). The thermodynamic investigations previously revealed that L-ascorbic acid binds to trypsin more firmly than pepsin and the binding force of L-ascorbic acid is driven by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. However, the physiochemical effects of such interaction on trypsin and/or pepsin have not yet been reported. Ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, is one of the essential nutrients and most common food supplements, fortificants, and preservatives. The aim of this study was to explore the inhibitory effects of ascorbic acid on serine proteases at various concentrations on the in-vitro digestion and/or hydrolysis of intercellular matrix of cell monolayer and human serum albumin (HSA). The inhibitory effects of ascorbic on trypsin are investigated by qualitative and quantitative analysis using SDS-PAGE imaging and NIH densitometric software. Upon the addition of ascorbic acid in both indicator systems, the detachment and/or dissociation of cell monolayer and the digestion of HSA were inhibited in the presence of EDTA-Trypsin. The inhibitory effect of ascorbic acid on the digestion of intercellular matrix and/or hydrolysis of HSA showed a dose-dependent trend until it reached the maximum extent of inhibition. At an equal concentration (2.5mg/mL) ascorbic acid and EDTA-Trypsin exhibited the most potent inhibitory effect on the in vitro digestion of protein either in the form of intercellular matrix in cell monolayer and/or HSA respectively. Overall, our results based on two indicator systems strongly indicate that ascorbic acid may function as a serine protease inhibitor (SERPIN) beyond other important functions.
Competing Interests: The authors have declared no competing interests.
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