2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induces oxidative stress, DNA strand breaks, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 activation in human breast carcinoma cell lines

The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a critical role in 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced toxicities in mammalian cells since it promotes cell proliferation, growth arrest, and apoptosis. In this study, we investigated whether TCDD induces oxidative stress and DNA damage in human ERalpha(+)/MCF-7 and ERalpha(-)/MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and whether this is accompanied by the initiation of DNA repair events. Results indicated that viability of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells was concentration- and time-dependently reduced by TCDD. Further, we observed significant increases in ROS formation and decreases in intracellular glutathione (GSH) in these two cell lines after TCDD treatment. Overall, the extent of cell death was greater in MCF-7 cells than in MDA-MB-231 cells whereas the magnitude of ROS formation and GSH depletion was greater in MDA-MB-231 cells than in MCF-7 cells. In addition, we observed that at non-cytotoxic concentration (1nM for 5h), TCDD induced decreases in intracellular NAD(P)H and NAD(+) in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. These decreases were completely blocked by three types of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) inhibitors. The catalytic activation of PARP-1 in cells treated with TCDD was confirmed by detection of the presence of polymers of ADP-ribose-modified PARP-1 using Western blotting. Moreover, we demonstrated increases in the number of DNA strand breaks in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells exposed to TCDD as measured by the single-cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay. Overall, this evidence confirms that TCDD induces decreases in intracellular NAD(P)H and NAD(+) through PARP-1 activation mediated by formation of DNA strand breaks. In addition, we demonstrated that the extent of oxidative stress and DNA damage was greater in MDA-MB-231 cells than in MCF-7 cells, with a strong correlation to estrogen receptor (ER) status. In conclusions, our findings add further support to the theme that ROS formation is a significant determinant factor in mediating the induction of oxidative DNA damage and repair in human breast cancer cells exposed to TCDD and that the TCDD-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage may, in part, contribute to TCDD-induced carcinogenesis.     

RIP3 overexpression sensitizes human breast cancer cells to parthenolide in vitro via intracellular ROS accumulation

Aim： Receptor-interacting protein 3 （RIP3） is involved in tumor necrosis factor receptor signaling, and results in NF-KB-mediated prosurvival signaling and programmed cell death. The aim of this study was to determine whether overexpression of the RIP3 gene could sensitize human breast cancer cells to parthenolide in vitro. Methods： The expression of RIP3 mRNA in human breast cancer cell lines （MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-435 and T47D） was detected using RT-PCR. Both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were transfected with RIP3 expression or blank vectors via lentivirus. Cell viability was measured with MTT assay; intracellular ROS level and cell apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry. Results： RIP3 mRNA expression was not detected in the four human breast cancer cell lines tested. However, the transfection induced higher levels of RIP3 protein in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, overexpression of RIP3 decreased the IC50 values of parthenolide from 17.6 to 12.6 μmol/L in MCF-7 cells, and from 16.6 to 9.9 μmol/L in MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, overexpression of RIP3 significantly increased parthenolide-induced apoptosis and ROS accumulation in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Pretreatment with N-acetyl-cysteine abrogated the increased sensitivity of RIP3-transfected MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells to parthenolide. Conclusion： Overexpression of RIP3 sensitizes MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells to parthenolide in vitro via intracellular ROS accumulation.     

Berberine inhibits growth of the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231

The effects of berberine on the behavior of breast tumors have not yet been established. To determine whether this compound is useful in the treatment of breast cancer, we analyzed the impact of berberine on the human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Berberine was added to proliferating MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in culture. Following treatment, changes in cell growth characteristics such as proliferation, cell cycle duration, and the degree of apoptosis were assayed. Following berberine treatment, a time-dependent reduction in proliferation was observed in both cell lines at differing concentrations: 20 microM for MCF-7 and 10 microM for MDA-MB-231 cells. Annexin V staining showed an increase in apoptosis in both cell lines of 31 % in MCF-7 and 12 % in MDA-MB-231 cells compared to their respective controls. In addition, 12 % of the MCF-7 cells were arrested at G0/G1, compared to 62 % of control cells. These results demonstrate that treatment with berberine inhibits growth in both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. In addition, they show that this partly occurs through the induction of apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells, and through both cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Thus, berberine may be a novel therapeutic drug for breast cancer.     

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin modulates the induction of DNA strand breaks and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 activation by 17beta-estradiol in human breast carcinoma cells through alteration of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 expression

The primary purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin (TCDD) pretreatment and estrogen receptors-alpha (ER alpha) status on the induction of DNA damage by 17beta-estradiol (E 2) in human ER alpha(+)/MCF-7 and ER alpha(-)/MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Results indicated that E 2 (0.1-100 nM) alone induced significant increases in cytotoxic response, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and glutathione depletion in MDA-MB-231 cells but not in MCF-7 cells. At noncytotoxic concentrations, E 2 induced dose-related reduction in intracellular NAD(P)H in MDA-MB-231 cells through decreases in intracellular NAD (+) mediated by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) activation as determined by detection of the presence of polymers of ADP-ribose-modified PARP-1 using Western blotting. Further investigation using the single-cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay confirmed that the PARP-1 activation induced by estrogen in MDA-MB-231 was due to increases in the number of DNA strand breaks. This evidence indicates that E 2 induces decreases in intracellular NAD(P)H and NAD (+) in MDA-MB-231 cells through PARP-1 activation mediated by the formation of DNA strand breaks. Further investigation indicated that the cytotoxic and DNA-damaging effects induced by E 2 in MDA-MB-231 cells were completely blocked by pretreatment of TCDD (10 nM for 72 h). In contrast, with TCDD pretreatment, significant increases in cytotoxic response, ROS generation, glutathione (GSH) depletion, DNA strand breaks, and PARP-1 activation were detected in MCF-7 cells exposed to E 2. We demonstrated that TCDD modulated the differential induction of DNA damage by estrogen in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells primarily through the inducibility of cytochrome P450 1A1 and 1B1 expression. Overall, this evidence suggests that TCDD is capable of inducing imbalances in the expression of enzymes responsible for the bioactivation of estrogen leading to the subsequent accumulation of DNA damage and initiation of DNA repair in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, we confirmed that ER alpha plays a protective role in modulating the induction of DNA damage by E 2 in human breast cancer cells.     

高强度聚焦超声通过TRIF介导的ERK通路增强乳腺癌的顺铂化疗敏感性

目的　探究高强度聚焦超声（HIFU）通过β干扰素TIR结构域衔接蛋白（TRIF）介导的细胞外调节蛋白激酶（ERK）通路增强乳腺癌顺铂（DDP）化疗敏感性的作用机制。方法　依次增加DDP浓度间歇作用的方法诱导乳腺癌细胞（MDA-MB-231、MCF-7）/DDP耐药细胞;将MDA-MB-231/DDP、MCF-7/DDP细胞分为control组、HIFU组、HIFU+二甲基亚砜（DMSO）组、HIFU+漆黄素（fisetin）组。CCK-8检测细胞活力;集落形成实验检测细胞增殖情况;流式细胞术检测细胞周期及凋亡情况;Western blot检测细胞TRIF蛋白、耐药相关蛋白及ERK通路蛋白表达;体内成瘤实验检测肿瘤生长情况;免疫组化染色法检测肿瘤组织Ki-67的表达。结果　与亲本MDA-MB-231及MCF-7细胞相比,在相同浓度DDP处理下MDA-MB-231/DDP及MCF-7/DDP细胞活力更高,且半数抑制浓度（IC50）显著增加（P＜0.05）,成功建立了稳定的DPP耐药细胞系;与control组相比,HIFU组MDA-MB-231/DDP及MCF-7/DDP细胞IC50、OD450值、克隆细胞数、S期细胞百分比、B淋巴细胞瘤-2基因（Bcl-2）、TRIF、p-糖蛋白（p-gp）、多药耐药基因1（MDR1）、p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2表达水平显著降低,G0/G1期细胞百分比、细胞凋亡率、Bcl-2关联X蛋白（Bax）表达水平显著增加（P＜0.05）;与HIFU组相比,HIFU+fisetin组细胞IC50、OD450值、克隆细胞数、S期细胞百分比、Bcl-2、TRIF、p-gp、MDR1、p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2表达水平显著增加,G0/G1期细胞百分比、细胞凋亡率、Bax表达水平显著降低（P＜0.05）。与control组相比,HIFU组肿瘤体积、肿瘤质量、TRIF及p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2表达水平、Ki-67阳性表达显著降低（P＜0.05）;与HIFU组相比,HIFU+fisetin组肿瘤体积、肿瘤质量、TRIF及p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2表达水平、Ki-67阳性表达显著增加（P＜0.05）。结论　HIFU通过抑制TRIF表达来抑制其介导的ERK通路,从而增强乳腺癌DDP化疗敏感性。     

Differential effects of doxorubicin treatment on cell cycle arrest and Skp2 expression in breast cancer cells

Overexpression of Skp2, the ubiquitin ligase subunit that targets p27 for degradation, is often observed in cancers, and is associated with aggressive tumor proliferation and poor prognosis. As there is no drug at present that specifically targets Skp2, studies were undertaken to examine the effects of commonly used drugs on Skp2 regulation. Doxorubicin is among the most effective antitumor agents used for the management of breast cancer, but its effect on Skp2 expression is unknown. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of doxorubicin on Skp2 expression regulation in breast cancer cell lines. The expression of Skp2 mRNA and the protein levels of Skp2, p27, p21 and cyclin B were examined in doxorubicin-treated MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The effect of doxorubicin on the cell cycle profile was assessed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. Doxorubicin decreased Skp2 mRNA and protein levels in MCF-7 cells, but had the opposite effect in MDA-MB-231 cells. p27 levels were slightly decreased, whereas p53 and p21 levels were significantly upregulated in doxorubicin-treated MCF-7 cells. In contrast, p27 levels were unaffected by doxorubicin treatment in MDA-MB-231 cells, but cyclin B levels were markedly increased. Doxorubicin arrested MCF-7 cells at G1/S and G2/M checkpoints, whereas MDA-MB-231 cells were arrested at G2/M only. The differential effects of doxorubicin on Skp2 expression in breast cancer cells depend upon the specific cell cycle checkpoints activated by the drug. These changes induced by doxorubicin, however, do not significantly affect p27 expression in these cell lines, suggesting that the potential of a given drug to alter p27 expression through Skp2 modulation might depend on its specific action on cell cycle arrest.     

Undecylprodigiosin selectively induces apoptosis in human breast carcinoma cells independent of p53

Undecylprodigiosin (UP) is a bacterial bioactive metabolite produced by Streptomyces and Serratia. In this study, we explored the anticancer effect of UP. Human breast carcinoma cell lines BT-20, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and T47D and one nonmalignant human breast epithelial cell line, MCF-10A, were tested in this study. We found that UP exerted a potent cytotoxicity against all breast carcinoma cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In contrast, UP showed limited toxicity to MCF-10A cells, indicating UP's cytotoxic effect is selective for malignant cells. UP's cytotoxic effect was due to apoptosis, as confirmed by positive TUNEL signals, annexin V-binding, caspase 9 activation and PARP cleavage. Notably, UP-induced apoptosis was blocked by the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD.fmk, further indicating the involvement of caspase activity. Moreover, UP caused a marked decrease of the levels of antiapoptotic BCL-X(L), Survivin and XIAP while enhancing the levels of proapoptotic BIK, BIM, MCL-1S and NOXA, consequently favoring induction of apoptosis. Additionally, we found that cells with functional p53 (MCF-7, T47D) or mutant p53 (BT-20, MDA-MB-231) were both susceptible to UP's cytotoxicity. Importantly, UP was able to induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells with p53 knockdown by RNA interference, confirming the dispensability of p53 in UP-induced apoptosis. Overall, our results establish that UP induces p53-independent apoptosis in breast carcinoma cells with no marked toxicity to nonmalignant cells, raising the possibility of its use as a new chemotherapeutic drug for breast cancer irrespective of p53 status.     

HL-37, a novel anthracene derivative, induces Ca(2+)-mediated apoptosis in human breast cancer cells

HL-37, a novel anthracene derivative, exhibited potent anticancer activity in many kinds of cancer cells. However, the exact mechanism and signaling pathway involved in HL-37-induced apoptosis have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we explored the mechanisms of HL-37-mediated apoptosis in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435 human breast cancer cells. When MCF-7 cells or MDA-MB-435 cells were co-incubated with HL-37, the percentage of apoptotic cell and S phase of cell cycle was markedly increased. In addition, a rise in intracellular calcium levels, ROS production, phosphorylation of JNK and activation of calpain were found in both MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-435 cells after exposure to HL-37. With the HL-37-mediated reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c was released from mitochondria to cytosol. Moreover, HL-37 strongly induced cleavage of caspase-4, caspase-9, as well as caspase-3 in MDA-MB-435 cells, whereas, activation of caspase-4, caspase-9 and caspase-7 but not caspase-3 was detected in MCF-7 cells. These results suggested that HL-37 induced MDA-MB-435 and MCF-7 cells apoptosis via oxidative stress and Ca(2+)/calpain/caspase-4 pathway.     

Peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor overexpression and knockdown in human breast cancer cells indicate its prominent role in tumor cell proliferation

The peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), an 18-kDa high affinity drug and cholesterol binding protein, is expressed at high levels in various cancers. Its expression is positively correlated with aggressive metastatic behavior in human breast cancer cells. To determine the role of PBR in tumor progression, two human mammary carcinoma cell lines were utilized: the non-aggressive MCF-7 cell line, which expresses extremely low PBR levels, and the highly aggressive MDA-MB-231 cell line, which has much higher PBR levels. We have generated stably transfected lines of the tetracycline-repressible MCF-7 cell line (MCF-7 Tet-Off) with inducible human PBR cDNA. Induction of PBR expression in MCF-7 Tet-Off cells increased PBR ligand binding and cell proliferation. Transfection of MDA-MB-231 cells with multiple siRNAs complementary to PBR (PBR-siRNAs) led to different levels of PBR mRNA knockdown. Lentiviral-mediated PBR RNA interference in MDA-MB-231 cells decreased PBR levels by 50%. Decreased PBR expression was associated with cell cycle arrest at G2 phase, decreased cell proliferation, and significant increases in the protein levels of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(WAF/CIP1). These changes were accompanied by p53 activation seen as increased p53 phosphorylation (Ser15). In parallel, increased proteolytic activation of caspase-3 was also observed. Taken together these results suggest that PBR protein expression is directly involved in regulating cell survival and proliferation in human breast cancer cells by influencing signaling mechanisms involved in cell cycle control and apoptosis.     

Cytotoxic and genotoxic potentials of newly synthesized antiviral aminopyrazoloquinoline derivatives

In the present study, we screened newly synthesized antiviral aminopyrazoloquinoline derivatives for their cytotoxic and genotoxic potential in human normal and breast cancer cell lines using apoptosis and DNA adducts biomarkers. The compounds, along with the well-known antiviral drug acyclovir, were incubated with the normal (MCF-10A, MCF-12A) and cancer (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231) cell lines at 10, 50, and 100 μM for 72 h at 37°C. The most potent antiviral methoxy derivative (compound 3) was found to be more cytotoxic in the normal breast epithelial cell lines (MCF-10A and MCF-12A) and MDA-MB-231 cell lines at 50 μM. MCF-7 cells were found to be almost completely resistant to all these compounds while MDA-MB-231 cell lines were significantly killed by apoptosis. Acyclovir was ineffective in all these cell lines. We further tested these compounds using modulation of benzo[a]pyrene (BP)-DNA adduct formation in these cell lines. An inverse correlation was found between the degree of apoptosis and BP-DNA adduct levels for most of these compounds, although this seems to be the case only with the cancer cell lines. Our results suggest that the newly synthesized antiviral compounds have an associated risk of cytotoxicity and/or genotoxicity compared to acyclovir.     

Cytotoxicity,cell cycle arrest,and apoptosis in breast cancer cell lines exposed to an extract of the seed kernel of Mangifera pajang (bambangan)

An extract of Mangifera pajang kernel has been previously found to contain a high content of antioxidant phytochemicals. The present research was conducted to investigate the anticancer potential of this kernel extract. The results showed that the kernel crude extract induced cytotoxicity in MCF-7 (hormone-dependent breast cancer) cells and MDA-MB-231 (non-hormone dependent breast cancer) cells with IC50 values of 23 and 30.5 μg/ml, respectively. The kernel extract induced cell cycle arrest in MCF-7 cells at the sub-G1 (apoptosis) phase of the cell cycle in a time-dependent manner. For MDA-MB-231 cells, the kernel extract induced strong G2-M arrest in cell cycle progression at 24 h, resulting in substantial sub-G1 (apoptosis) arrest after 48 and 72 h of incubation. Staining with Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide revealed that this apoptosis occurred early in both cell types, 36 h for MCF-7 cells and 24 h for MDA-MB-231cells, with 14.0% and 16.5% of the cells respectively undergoing apoptosis at these times. This apoptosis appeared to be dependent on caspase-2 and -3 in MCF-7 cells, and on caspase-2, -3 and -9 in MDA-MB-231 cells. These findings suggest that M. pajang kernel extract has potential as a potent cytotoxic agent against breast cancer cell lines.     

应用 RNA 干扰技术下调 ANXA3表达的 MDA-MB-231乳腺癌细胞株的建立

目的：建立针对膜联蛋白A3（Annexin A3, ANXA3）的shRNA稳定转染的乳腺癌细胞株MDA-MB-231,为后续进一步研究奠定基础。方法荧光定量RT-PCR及western blot方法检测两种乳腺癌细胞株（ MDA-MB-231及MCF-7）中ANXA3 mRNA及蛋白表达水平。构建沉默ANXA3基因的shRNA质粒3个（ ANXA3-sh1-3）及阴性对照质粒,脂质体法转染人乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231;选出ANXA3沉默效果最好的干扰质粒做后续实验。嘌呤霉素筛选出稳定转染细胞;Western blot 方法检测转染后细胞中ANXA3蛋白表达水平。结果 MDA-MB-231细胞中 ANXA3 mRNA及蛋白表达水平显著高于MCF-7中的表达（ P ＜0 k．05）;成功构建3个针对ANXA3基因的shRNA质粒;转染ANXA3-sh1～3及阴性对照质粒后MDA-MB-231细胞中ANXA3 mRNA表达水平分别为（0．0196±0．0002）、（0．0085±0．0002）、（0．0220±0．0035）、（0．0661±0．0057）,未转染的MDA-MB-231细胞中ANXA3 mRNA表达水平为（0．0692±0．0050）,脂质体组MDA-MB-231细胞中ANXA3 mRNA表达水平为（0．0652±0．0118）,ANXA3-sh2对MDA-MB-231细胞中ANXA3 mRNA沉默效率最高,达87．72％,因此后续实验选择ANXA3-sh2;嘌呤霉素筛选出稳定转染细胞分别命名为MDA-MB-231-Sh及MDA-MB-231-NC细胞。 Western blot检测结果显示,MDA-MB-231-Sh细胞中ANXA3蛋白显著低于MDA-MB-231及MDA-MB-231-NC细胞中的表达（ P ＜0．01）。结论 MDA-MB-231细胞较MCF-7细胞高表达ANXA3,成功的建立了稳定下调ANXA3表达的乳腺癌细胞株MDA-MB-231,为后续进一步研究ANXA3的表达及特性打下基础。     

Different apoptotic effects of saxifragifolin C in human breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is currently the most common form of cancer affecting women. Recent studies have reported that triterpenoid saponins isolated from Androsace umbellata exhibit anti-proliferative effects in several types of cancer cells. However, the cytotoxic effect of saxifragifolin C (Saxi C) on breast cancer cells remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the in vitro anti-tumor activity of Saxi C in human breast cancer cells. Our data indicated that MDA-MB-231 cells were more sensitive than MCF-7 cells to Saxi C treatment. In addition, Saxi C inhibited cell survival through the induction of reactive oxygen species and the caspase-dependent pathway in the MDA-MB-231 cells, whereas MCF-7 cells treated with Saxi C underwent the apoptotic cell death in a caspase-independent manner. Although Saxi C treatment resulted in the induction of activation of MAPKs in both types of human breast cancer cells, p38 MAPK and JNK, but not ERK1/2, appeared to be involved in Saxi C-induced apoptosis. Moreover, ERα-overexpressing MDA-MB-231 cells remained alive, whereas the survival of shERα-transfected MCF-7 cells decreased. Taken together, Saxi C induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells via different regulatory mechanisms, and ERα status might be essential for regulating Saxi C-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Thus, Saxi C is a potential chemotherapeutic agent in breast cancer.     

Autophagic cell death, polyploidy and senescence induced in breast tumor cells by the substituted pyrrole JG-03-14, a novel microtubule poison

JG-03-14, a substituted pyrrole that inhibits microtubule polymerization, was screened against MCF-7 (p53 wild type), MDA-MB231 (p53 mutant), MCF-7/caspase 3 and MCF-7/ADR (multidrug resistant) breast tumor cell lines. Cell viability and growth inhibition were assessed by the crystal violet dye assay. Apoptosis was evaluated by the TUNEL assay, cell cycle distribution by flow cytometry, autophagy by acridine orange staining of vesicle formation, and senescence based on beta-galactosidase staining and cell morphology. Our studies indicate that exposure to JG-03-14, at a concentration of 500 nM, induces time-dependent cell death in the MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cell lines. In MCF-7 cells, a residual surviving cell population was found to be senescent; in contrast, there was no surviving senescent population in treated MDA-MB231 cells. No proliferative recovery was detected over a period of 15 days post-treatment in either cell line. Both the TUNEL assay and FLOW cytometry indicated a relatively limited degree of apoptosis (<10%) in response to drug treatment in MCF-7 cells with more extensive apoptosis (but <20%) in MDA-MB231 cells; acidic vacuole formation indicative of autophagic cell death was relatively extensive in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cells. In addition, JG-03-14 induced the formation of a large hyperdiploid cell population in MDA-MB231 cells. JG-03-14 also demonstrated pronounced anti-proliferative activity in MCF-7/caspase 3 cells and in the MCF-7/ADR cell line. The observation that JG-03-14 promotes autophagic cell death and also retains activity in tumor cells expressing the multidrug resistance pump indicates that novel microtubule poisons of the substituted pyrroles class may hold promise in the treatment of breast cancer.     

Docetaxel-loaded PLGA nanoparticles to increase pharmacological sensitivity in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells

This study aimed to develop docetaxel (DTX) loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (DTX-NPs) and to evaluate the different pharmacological sensitivity of NPs to MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. NPs containing DTX or coumarin-6 were prepared by the nanoprecipitation method using PLGA as a polymer and d-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) as a surfactant. The physicochemical properties of NPs were characterized. In vitro anticancer effect and cellular uptake were evaluated in breast cancer cells. The particle size and zeta potential of the DTX-NPs were 160.5 ± 3.0 nm and –26.7 ± 0.46 mV, respectively. The encapsulation efficiency and drug loading were 81.3 ± 1.85% and 10.6 ± 0.24%, respectively. The in vitro release of DTX from the DTX-NPs was sustained at pH 7.4 containing 0.5% Tween 80. The viability of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells with DTX-NPs was 37.5 ± 0.5% and 30.3 ± 1.13%, respectively. The IC₅₀ values of DTX-NPs were 3.92- and 6.75-fold lower than that of DTX for MDA-MB-231 cells and MCF-7 cells, respectively. The cellular uptake of coumarin-6-loaded PLGA-NPs in MCF-7 cells was significantly higher than that in MDA-MB-231 cells. The pharmacological sensitivity in breast cancer cells was higher on MCF-7 cells than on MDA-MB-231 cells. In conclusion, we successfully developed DTX-NPs that showed a great potential for the controlled release of DTX. DTX-NPs are an effective formulation for improving anticancer effect in breast cancer cells.     

3',4'-dimethoxyflavone as an aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonist in human breast cancer cells.

Treatment of MCF-7 and T47D human breast cancer cells with 3', 4'-dimethoxyflavone (3',4'-DMF) alone did not induce CYP1A1-dependent ethoxyresorufin O:-deethylase (EROD) activity or reporter gene activity in cells transfected with an aryl hydrocarbon (Ah)-responsive construct (pRNH11c). In contrast, 1 nM 2,3,7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induced up to a 50- to 80-fold increase in EROD and reporter gene activity in MCF-7 and T47D cells. In cells cotreated with 1 nM TCDD plus 0.1-10 microM 3',4'-DMF, there was a concentration-dependent decrease in the TCDD-induced responses, with 100% inhibition observed at the 10 microM concentration. Gel mobility shift assays using rat liver cytosol and breast cancer cell nuclear extracts showed that 3',4'-DMF alone did not transform the AhR to its nuclear binding form, but inhibited TCDD-induced AhR transformation in rat liver cytosol and blocked TCDD-induced formation of the nuclear AhR complex in MCF-7 and T47D cells. TCDD also inhibited estrogen-induced transactivation in MCF-7 cells, and this response was also blocked by 3',4'-DMF, confirming the AhR antagonist activity of this compound in breast cancer cells.     

Cordycepin-induced apoptosis and autophagy in breast cancer cells are independent of the estrogen receptor

Cordycepin (3-deoxyadenosine), found in Cordyceps spp., has been known to have many therapeutic effects including immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-aging effects. Moreover, anti-tumor and anti-metastatic effects of cordycepin have been reported, but the mechanism causing cancer cell death is poorly characterized. The present study was designed to investigate whether the mechanisms of cordycepin-induced cell death were associated with estrogen receptor in breast cancer cells. Exposure of both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells to cordycepin resulted in dose-responsive inhibition of cell growth and reduction in cell viability. The cordycepin-induced cell death in MDA-MB-231 cells was associated with several specific features of the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway, which was confirmed by DNA fragmentation, TUNEL, and biochemical assays. Cordycepin also caused a dose-dependent increase in mitochondrial translocation of Bax, triggering cytosolic release of cytochrome c and activation of caspases-9 and -3. Interestingly, MCF-7 cells showed autophagy-associated cell death, as observed by the detection of an autophagosome-specific protein and large membranous vacuole ultrastructure morphology in the cytoplasm. Cordycepin-induced autophagic cell death has applications in treating MCF-7 cells with apoptotic defects, irrespective of the ER response. Although autophagy has a survival function in tumorigenesis of some cancer cells, autophagy may be important for cordycepin-induced MCF-7 cell death. In conclusion, the results of our study demonstrate that cordycepin effectively kills MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines in culture. Hence, further studies should be conducted to determine whether cordycepin will be a clinically useful, ER-independent, chemotherapeutic agent for human breast cancer.     

Galenia africana plant extract exhibits cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells by inducing multiple programmed cell death pathways

Globally, breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the second most common cause of cancer-related death among women. There is therefore a need to identify more efficacious therapies for this neoplasm. Galenia africana (Kraalbos) is a perennial shrub found in Southern Africa and is used by the indigenous people to treat various ailments. There has therefore been much interest to establish the scientific basis for the medicinal properties of Kraalbos. This study aimed to investigate and characterise the anti-cancer activity of an ethanolic extract of Kraalbos leaves, KB2, against oestrogen receptor positive (MCF-7) and triple negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells. LC-MS/MS analyses identified the phytochemicals 7′-hydroxyflavanone, 5′,7'-dihydroxyflavanone, 2′,4′-dihydroxydihydrochalcone and 2′,4′-dihydroxychalcone in KB2. KB2 exhibited an IC₅₀ of 114 µg/ml and 130.5 µg/ml in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells respectively, selectively inhibited their long-term survival and reduced their migration which correlated with a decrease in EMT markers. It induced oxidative stress (ROS), DNA damage (increased levels of γ-H2AX), and triggered cell cycle arrests in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Importantly, KB2 activated intrinsic (cleaved caspase 9) and extrinsic (cleaved caspase 8) apoptosis, necroptosis (p-RIP3 and the downstream target of the necrosome, pMLKL) and autophagy (LC3II). Co-treatment of the breast cancer cells with KB2 and the autophagy inhibitor bafilomycin A1 resulted in a significant increase in cell viability which suggests that KB2 induced autophagy is a cell death mechanism.     

2'-Benzoyloxycinnamaldehyde-mediated DJ-1 upregulation protects MCF-7 cells from mitochondrial damage

2'-Benzoyloxycinnamaldehyde (BCA) is a promising antitumor agent which induces cancer cells apoptosis via reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. BCA shows more effective antiproliferation in MDA-MB-435 than in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. DJ-1 has been known to protect cells against oxidative stress as an antioxidant because of its cysteine residues sensitive to oxidative stress. In the present study, we evaluated the mechanism of DJ-1 for cell protection from oxidative stress after BCA treatment in MCF-7 cell. BCA upregulates the expression of DJ-1 in MCF-7 cells. However, DJ-1 expression decreased continuously for 24?h after BCA treatment in MDA-MB-435 cells. DJ-1 knockdown sensitized MCF-7 cells to BCA, on the contrary, DJ-1 overexpression induced MDA-MB-435 cells less sensitive to BCA. Confocal microscopic observation showed that only in MCF-7 cells BCA increased the overlapped signal between mitochondria and DJ-1 protein. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was decreased in MDA-MB-435 cells by BCA, and DJ-1 overexpression inhibited BCA-induced MMP decrease in these cells. On the contrary, DJ-1 knockdown in MCF-7 induced MMP perturbation by BCA. These findings suggest that DJ-1 upregulation protects MCF-7 cells from BCA via inhibiting mitochondrial damage.