Anticancer potential against cervix cancer (HeLa) cell line of probiotic Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus paracasei strains isolated from human breast milk

Lactic acid bacteria have been categorized as probiotics and play a crucial role in human health by stimulating the supply of nutrients, shaping the immune system, and preventing the colonization of pathogenic microbes. This study investigated the mechanisms for the action of three potential probiotic Lactobacillus strains: Lactobacillus casei SR1, Lactobacillus casei SR2, and Lactobacillus paracasei SR4 isolated from human breast milk. These Lactobacillus strains were identified via 16S DNA sequencing and characterized via biochemical assays including acid resistance, bile resistance, antioxidant activity, and antibiotic susceptibility. The bioactivity of the cell-free culture supernatant (CFCS) secreted by these strains on the cervix cancer (HeLa) cell line was also evaluated via cytotoxicity assay and apoptosis analysis. The mechanism of anticancer activity was also investigated via RT-qPCR and western blotting. The results demonstrated that these newly isolated Lactobacillus strains from human milk displayed noticeable probiotic characteristics such as excellent antibiotic susceptibility, outstanding antioxidant activity, and promising resistance to low pH and high concentration of bile salts. The results of the conducted bioactivity assays verified that the CFCSs had acceptable anticancer effects on cervix cancer (HeLa) cells by upregulating the expression of apoptotic genes BAX, BAD, caspase3, caspase8, and caspase9 and by downregulating the expression of the BCl-2 gene. Overall, these results indicate that the Lactobacillus strains isolated from human breast milk could be considered as a topical medication with a potential therapeutic index due to their efficacy against cervix cancer cells.