Betulinic acid induces apoptosis and ultrastructural changes in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells |
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| Authors: | Yang Gao Qing Ma Yan-Bin Ma Liang Ding Xiao-Long Xu De-Fei Wei |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China;2. Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China |
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| Abstract: | The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of betulinic acid (BA) on triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and observe the ultrastructural changes. The concentration of BA required to induce apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells has been previously reported. In this study, a cell counting kit-8 proliferation assay was used to measure cell viability and the apoptosis rate. Western blotting was performed to observe the protein expression levels of Bcl-2. Cell morphology and changes in cell density were observed by microscopy. Electron microscopy revealed pyknotic nuclei as well as vacuoles. Collectively, our results showed the morphological mechanisms by which BA impairs the ultrastructure of MDA-MB-231 cells. |
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| Keywords: | Betulinic acid MDA-MB-231 apoptosis ultrastructural changes |
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