Manganese(III)-salens induce tumor selective apoptosis in human cells

In order to explore the apoptotic and anti-tumor activities of metallo-salens, we synthesized several Mn(III)-salen derivatives (compds. 1-9) and analyzed their effects on cultured human cancer and non-cancer cells. Our results demonstrated that Mn(III)-salen derivatives affect cell viability, induce nuclear condensation and fragmentation in breast cancer cells (MCF7). Mn(III)-salen derivatives also induced caspase-3/7 activation and release of cytochrome-c from the mitochondria to cytosol suggesting that Mn(III)-salen derivatives induce apoptosis in human cells via mitochondrial pathway. Importantly, the nature of the substituent and the bridging spacer between diimino groups on the salen ligand play critical roles in determining the apoptotic activities of Mn(III)-salen derivatives. The IC₅₀ values for the active Mn(III)-salen derivatives lie within the range of 11-40 μM in MCF7 cells. Most importantly, several Mn(III)-salen derivatives showed preferential cytotoxicity (2- to 5-fold) toward malignant breast cells (MCF7) over a non-malignant breast epithelial cell line (MCF10). Notably, the level of cytotoxicity and selectivity of the Mn(III)-salen derivatives towards MCF7 and MCF10 cells are very similar to cisplatin which indicate that Mn(III)-salens are potential novel anti-tumor agent.     

Iron(III)-salen damages DNA and induces apoptosis in human cell via mitochondrial pathway

We synthesized a water soluble Fe(III)-salen complex and investigated its biochemical effects on DNA in vitro and on cultured human cells. We showed that Fe(III)-salen produces free radicals in the presence of reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT) and induces DNA damage in vitro. Interestingly, upon treatment with Fe(III)-salen at concentration as low as 10microM, HEK293 human cells showed morphological changes, nuclear fragmentation, and nuclear condensation that are typical features of apoptotic cell death. The cytotoxicity measurement showed that IC(50) of Fe(III)-salen is 2.0microM for HEK293 cells. Furthermore, treatment with Fe(III)-salen resulted in translocation of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol affecting mitochondrial membrane permeability. Our results demonstrated that Fe(III)-salen not only damages DNA in vitro, but also induces apoptosis in human cells via mitochondrial pathway.     

Could 99mTc-MIBI be used to visualize the apoptotic MCF7 human breast cancer cells?

Defects in key components of apoptotic pathways provide a survival advantage to cells and have been implicated as important factors in tumorogenesis. As therapeutic drug-induced apoptosis is a key component in treatment of most cancers, alterations in apoptotic pathways may be critical to drug resistance. The question is: would it be possible to distinguish apoptotic cells and resistant cells with a same radiotracer? In this study, we investigated the ability of sodium phenylacetate (NaPa), a natural cytostatic proapoptotic metabolite, to induce apoptosis in MCF7 human breast cancer cells. Then, we tested the 99mTc-MIBI accumulation in these apoptotic cells. Annexin V-FITC was used to identify apoptotic cells by flow cytometry. Ours results demonstrated that a 72 hr treatment of MCF7 cells with 40 mM NaPa induced apoptosis in 60% of cells. In a parallel way, 99mTc-MIBI accumulation in NaPa treated cells decreased for concentrations higher than 20 mM NaPa. Thus, 99mTc-MIBI accumulation decreased correlatively with the increasing percentage of apoptotic cells obtained by treatment of MCF7 cells with NaPa. These data demonstrate that NaPa induced apoptosis in MCF7 cells and that 99mTc-MIBI is a negative tracer of apoptosis: the more MCF7 cells were engaged in the apoptotic pathway, the more 99mTc-MIBI accumulation decreased in these MCF7 apoptotic cells.     

Effects of liposome-entrapped annamycin in human breast cancer cells: interference with cell cycle progression and induction of apoptosis

The effects of liposome-encapsulated annamycin (L-Ann) were investigated in two human breast cancer cell lines, MCF7 and MDA-MB-435. For comparative purposes, doxorubicin (Dx) was used throughout the study. A 4-hour treatment with L-Ann was significantly more active in MDA-MB-435 than in MCF7 cells (IC(50) values of 0.03 and 0.08 microg/ml, respectively), whereas Dx was equally active in the two cell lines (IC(50) 0.12 microg/ml). L-Ann induced an accumulation of cells in G2M phases which was dose-dependent in MDA-MB-435 but not in MCF7 cells. Dx also caused a dose-dependent increase of G2M cell fraction in MDA-MB-435 cells, whereas a G2M cell accumulation was observed only after treatment with the highest Dx concentration in MCF7 cells. G2M phase cell accumulations induced in MCF7 cells by L-Ann or Dx were accompanied by a decrease in cdc2 kinase activity and in cyclin B1 and cdc2 expression. Conversely, in MDA-MB-435 cells exposed to L-Ann or Dx, cdc2 kinase activity, cyclin B1 and cdc2 expression increased in parallel to the increase in the number of cells accumulated in the G2M phase. L-Ann and Dx induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-435 but not in MCF7 cells. In MDA-MB-435 cells exposed to L-Ann or Dx, no change was observed in the expression of bax, but there was a p53-independent increase in p21(waf1) expression. In MCF7 cells, treatment with L-Ann or Dx induced an increase in p53 expression with a consequent transactivation of p21(waf1) and bax. Our results indicate that L-Ann is more cytotoxic than Dx in breast cancer cells and is able to induce apoptosis through p53-independent mechanisms.     

Enhancement of Apoptotic and Autophagic Induction by a Novel Synthetic C-1 Analogue of 7-deoxypancratistatin in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma and Neuroblastoma Cells with Tamoxifen

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers amongst women in North America. Many current anti-cancer treatments, including ionizing radiation, induce apoptosis via DNA damage. Unfortunately, such treatments are non-selective to cancer cells and produce similar toxicity in normal cells. We have reported selective induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by the natural compound pancratistatin (PST). Recently, a novel PST analogue, a C-1 acetoxymethyl derivative of 7-deoxypancratistatin (JCTH-4), was produced by de novo synthesis and it exhibits comparable selective apoptosis inducing activity in several cancer cell lines. Recently, autophagy has been implicated in malignancies as both pro-survival and pro-death mechanisms in response to chemotherapy. Tamoxifen (TAM) has invariably demonstrated induction of pro-survival autophagy in numerous cancers. In this study, the efficacy of JCTH-4 alone and in combination with TAM to induce cell death in human breast cancer (MCF7) and neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells was evaluated. TAM alone induced autophagy, but insignificant cell death whereas JCTH-4 alone caused significant induction of apoptosis with some induction of autophagy. Interestingly, the combinatory treatment yielded a drastic increase in apoptotic and autophagic induction. We monitored time-dependent morphological changes in MCF7 cells undergoing TAM-induced autophagy, JCTH-4-induced apoptosis and autophagy, and accelerated cell death with combinatorial treatment using time-lapse microscopy. We have demonstrated these compounds to induce apoptosis/autophagy by mitochondrial targeting in these cancer cells. Importantly, these treatments did not affect the survival of noncancerous human fibroblasts. Thus, these results indicate that JCTH-4 in combination with TAM could be used as a safe and very potent anti-cancer therapy against breast cancer and neuroblastoma cells.     

Investigation of Gallic Acid Induced Anticancer Effect in Human Breast Carcinoma MCF‐7 Cells

Gallic acid (GA), a polyhydroxylphenolic compound abundantly distributed in plants, fruits, and foods, has been reported to have various biological activities including an anticancer effect. In this study, we extensively investigated the anticancer effect of GA in human breast carcinoma MCF‐7 cells. Our study indicated that treatment with GA resulted in inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis in MCF‐7 cells. Then, the molecular mechanism of GA's apoptotic action in MCF‐7 cells was further investigated. The results revealed that GA induced apoptosis by triggering the extrinsic or Fas/FasL pathway as well as the intrinsic or mitochondrial pathway. Furthermore, the apoptotic signaling induced by GA was amplified by cross‐link between the two pathways. Taken together, our findings may be useful for understanding the mechanism of action of GA on breast cancer cells and provide new insights into the possible application of such compound and its derivatives in breast cancer therapy.     

Sphingosine generation, cytochrome c release, and activation of caspase-7 in doxorubicin-induced apoptosis of MCF7 breast adenocarcinoma cells

Treatment of human breast carcinoma MCF7 cells with doxorubicin, one of the most active antineoplastic agents used in clinical oncology, induces apoptosis and leads to increases in sphingosine levels. The transient generation of this sphingolipid mediator preceded cytochrome c release from the mitochondria and activation of the executioner caspase-7 in MCF7 cells which do not express caspase-3. Bcl-x(L) overexpression did not affect sphingosine generation whereas it reduced apoptosis triggered by doxorubicin and completely blocked apoptosis triggered by sphingosine. Exogenous sphingosine-induced apoptosis was also accompanied by cytochrome c release and activation of caspase-7 in a Bcl-x(L)-sensitive manner. Furthermore, neither doxorubicin nor sphingosine treatment affected expression of Fas ligand or induced activation of the apical caspase-8, indicating a Fas/Fas ligand-independent mechanism. Our results suggest that a further metabolite of ceramide, sphingosine, may also be involved in mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling induced by doxorubicin in human breast cancer cells.     

Acetonic extract of Buxus sempervirens induces cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and autophagy in breast cancer cells

Plants are an invaluable source of potential new anti-cancer drugs. Here, we investigated the cytotoxic activity of the acetonic extract of Buxus sempervirens on five breast cancer cell lines, MCF7, MCF10CA1a and T47D, three aggressive triple positive breast cancer cell lines, and BT-20 and MDA-MB-435, which are triple negative breast cancer cell lines. As a control, MCF10A, a spontaneously immortalized but non-tumoral cell line has been used. The acetonic extract of Buxus sempervirens showed cytotoxic activity towards all the five studied breast cancer cell lines with an IC(50) ranging from 7.74 μg/ml to 12.5 μg/ml. Most importantly, the plant extract was less toxic towards MCF10A with an IC(50) of 19.24 μg/ml. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis showed that the plant extract induced cell death and cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase in MCF7, T47D, MCF10CA1a and BT-20 cell lines, concomitant to cyclin D1 downregulation. Application of MCF7 and MCF10CA1a respective IC(50) did not show such effects on the control cell line MCF10A. Propidium iodide/Annexin V double staining revealed a pre-apoptotic cell population with extract-treated MCF10CA1a, T47D and BT-20 cells. Transmission electron microscopy analyses indicated the occurrence of autophagy in MCF7 and MCF10CA1a cell lines. Immunofluorescence and Western blot assays confirmed the processing of microtubule-associated protein LC3 in the treated cancer cells. Moreover, we have demonstrated the upregulation of Beclin-1 in these cell lines and downregulation of Survivin and p21. Also, Caspase-3 detection in treated BT-20 and T47D confirmed the occurrence of apoptosis in these cells. Our findings indicate that Buxus sempervirens extract exhibit promising anti-cancer activity by triggering both autophagic cell death and apoptosis, suggesting that this plant may contain potential anti-cancer agents for single or combinatory cancer therapy against breast cancer.     

Osteoprotegerin production by breast cancer cells is suppressed by dexamethasone and confers resistance against TRAIL‐induced apoptosis

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a decoy receptor for receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand (RANKL) and TNF‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL). While RANKL is essential for osteoclastogenesis and facilitates breast cancer migration into bone, TRAIL promotes breast cancer apoptosis. We analyzed the expression of OPG and TRAIL and its modulation in estrogen receptor‐positive MCF‐7 cells and receptor‐negative MDA‐MB‐231 cells. In both cells, OPG mRNA levels and protein secretion were dose‐ and time‐dependently enhanced by interleukin (IL)‐1β and suppressed by dexamethasone. In contrast to MCF‐7 cells, MDA‐MB‐231 abundantly expressed TRAIL mRNA, which was enhanced by IL‐1β and inhibited by dexamethasone. TRAIL activated pro‐apoptotic caspase‐3, ‐7, and poly‐ADP‐ribose polymerase and decreased cell numbers of MDA‐MB‐231, but had no effect on MCF‐7 cells. Gene silencing siRNA directed against OPG resulted in a 31% higher apoptotic rate compared to non‐target siRNA‐treated MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Furthermore, TRAIL induced significantly less apoptosis in cells cultured in conditioned media (containing OPG) compared to cells exposed to TRAIL in fresh medium lacking OPG (P < 0.01) and these protective effects were reversed by blocking OPG with its specific ligand RANKL (P < 0.05). The association between cancer cell survival and OPG production by MDA‐MB‐231 cells was further supported by the finding, that modulation of OPG secretion using IL‐1β or dexamethasone prior to TRAIL exposure resulted in decreased and increased rate of apoptosis, respectively (P < 0.05). Thus, OPG secretion by breast cancer cells is modulated by cytokines and dexamethasone, and may represent a critical resistance mechanism that protects against TRAIL‐induced apoptosis. J. Cell. Biochem. 108: 106–116, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

10H‐3,6‐Diazaphenothiazines triggered the mitochondrial‐dependent and cell death receptor‐dependent apoptosis pathways and further increased the chemosensitivity of MCF‐7 breast cancer cells via inhibition of AKT1 pathways

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in cancer categories, followed by lung, colorectal, and ovarian among the female gender across the world. 10H‐3,6‐diazaphenothiazine (PTZ) is a thiazine derivative compound that exhibits many pharmacological activities. Herein, we proceed to investigate the pharmacological activities of PTZ toward breast cancer MCF‐7 cells as a representative in vitro breast cancer cell model. The PTZ exhibited a proliferation inhibition (IC₅₀ = 0.895 µM) toward MCF‐7 cells. Further, cell cycle analysis illustrated that the S‐phase checkpoint was activated to achieve proliferation inhibition. In vitro cytotoxicity test on three normal cell lines (HEK293 normal kidney cells, MCF‐10A normal breast cells, and H9C2 normal heart cells) demonstrated that PTZ was more potent toward cancer cells. Increase in the levels of reactive oxygen species results in polarization of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), together with suppression of mitochondrial thioredoxin reductase enzymatic activity suggested that PTZ induced oxidative damages toward mitochondria and contributed to improved drug efficacy toward treatment. The RT² PCR Profiler Array (human apoptosis pathways) proved that PTZ induced cell death via mitochondria‐dependent and cell death receptor‐dependent pathways, through a series of modulation of caspases, and the respective morphology of apoptosis was observed. Mechanistic studies of apoptosis suggested that PTZ inhibited AKT1 pathways resulting in enhanced drug efficacy despite it preventing invasion of cancer cells. These results showed the effectiveness of PTZ in initiation of apoptosis, programmed cell death, toward highly chemoresistant MCF‐7 cells, thus suggesting its potential as a chemotherapeutic drug.     

Elucidation of strict structural requirements of brefeldin A as an inducer of differentiation and apoptosis

Brefeldin A (BFA) can induce a wide variety of human cancer cells to differentiation and apoptosis and is in development as an anticancer agent. To elucidate structural requirements for cytotoxicity and induction of differentiation and apoptosis, BFA was structurally modified into various derivatives including 4-epi-BFA in this study. Their inducing activities of apoptosis were evaluated with their cytotoxicities, DNA fragmentation and morphological changes in human colon cancer cell HCT 116. The cytotoxicity of 4-epi-BFA (TX-1923) (IC50 = 60 microM) was 300 times lower than that of BFA (IC50 = 0.2 microM). Furthermore, 4-epi-BFA induced DNA fragmentation and apoptotic morphological changes at much higher concentrations (70 and 50 microM, respectively) than BFA (0.11 and 0.36 microM, respectively). These results indicated that the configuration of 4-hydroxyl group of brefeldin A plays a key role in the cytotoxicity and induction of apoptosis. On the other hand, 7-O-acetyl-BFA, 4-O-acetyl-BFA, and 4,7-di-O-acetyl-BFA exhibited potential activities in cytotoxicity and inducibility of apoptosis. We suggested that the structural determinants for BFA include the moiety of the Michael acceptor, the conformational rigidity of the 13-membered ring, and the configuration of 4-hydroxyl group.     

Copper(II) and manganese(III) complexes of N'-[(2-hydroxy phenyl) carbonothioyl] pyridine-2-carbohydrazide: novel therapeutic agents for cancer

c-Src is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase which plays a significant role in the growth mediated signaling pathway impacting cellular proliferation, differentiation, mobility, survival and transformation. Myristoylation of pp60(c-src) leads to its membrane association and activation, a process catalyzed by N-myristoyltransferase (NMT). We have shown earlier increased NMT activity in the early stages of colon cancer. A novel sulfur nitrogen donor ligand and its Cu(II) and Mn(III) complexes have been prepared and characterized using various physicochemical analyses. These Cu(II) and Mn(III) complexes showed cytotoxicity against the colon cancer cell line HT29. The IC(50) for Cu(II) and Mn(III) complexes were 12.2 and 16.1 microM, respectively. HT29 cells treated with Cu(II) and Mn(III) complexes induced apoptosis and inhibited endogenous NMT activity. Furthermore, they induced higher levels of hsc70 and inhibited the expression of c-Src. Inhibition of endogenous NMT activity by metal complexes was demonstrated for the first time. This study also suggested that NMT activity is crucial for cell survival and demonstrated that cessation in activity results in apoptosis. These metal complexes may prove to be novel therapeutic agents for cancer targeting NMT.     

Chromium(III)-induced apoptosis of lymphocytes: death decision by ROS and Src-family tyrosine kinases

Apoptosis is an active process induced by a variety of physiological and external stimuli, in which elimination of damaged cells are effected through a genetically controlled process. In this study, we have examined the mechanism of chromium(III) [Cr(III)]-induced cytotoxicity with respect to its relationship to oxidative stress. Morphology, flow cytometry, and DNA fragmentation studies show that tris-(1,10-phenanthroline)chromium(III) [Cr(III)-phen], tris-(2,2′-bipyridyl)chromium(III) [Cr(III)-bpy], trans-diaqua[1,2-bis(salicylideneamino)ethanechromium(III)] [Cr(III)-salen], and trans-diaqua[1,3-bis(salicylideneamino)propanechromium(III)] [Cr(III)-salprn] induced apoptosis of lymphocytes. Pentaammineaquachromium(III) [Cr(III)-hpa] does not induce apoptosis. Apoptosis induced by these complexes involves the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as seen by increased fluorescence of dichloroflourescein (DCF) observed through flow cytometry. Pretreatment of lymphocytes with antioxidants completely abrogate apoptosis. Cr(III) treatment also increased the expression and activation of Src-family tyrosine kinases viz. p56lck, p59fyn, and p53/56lyn, as seen by immunoblotting and immune complex kinase assay. PP2, a selective Src-family tyrosine kinase inhibitor, abolishes apoptosis, indicating that Src-family tyrosine kinases are directly involved in eliciting apoptosis. Interestingly, a one-to-one correlation between the expression of Src-family tyrosine kinases and ROS is observed, since antioxidants pretreatment inhibits the expression and the activation of these kinases. These results further indicate that Cr(III)-induced apoptosis is mediated through production of ROS, which in turn activates the Src-family tyrosine kinases. The increased activation of Src-family tyrosine kinases may be a mechanism involved in apoptosis of lymphocytes elicited by various other physiological stimuli that exploit ROS as a second messenger.     

端粒酶RNA的反义cDNA对乳腺癌细胞凋亡的影响(英文)

 为了进一步探讨端粒酶RNA(hTR)的反义cDNA对乳腺癌MCF 7细胞凋亡可诱导性的影响 ,构建了能将外源基因整合至细胞基因组的整合型腺病毒载体vAd AAV ,并将hTR全长cDNA反向连接至此载体上 ,获得反义重组腺病毒vAdT AAV .vAd AAV和vAdT AAV分别感染MCF 7细胞后 ,获得两个细胞株MCF 7 vAd AAV和MCF 7 vAdT AAV ,其中MCF 7 vAdT AAV细胞基因组内整合有hTR反义cDNA并能稳定表达 .利用生存曲线、细胞形态学观察、DNA片段分析和流式细胞分析来测定NaBu和无血清DMEM诱导后细胞凋亡的反应性 .通过生存曲线 ,发现NaBu诱导的MCF 7 vAdT AAV细胞比对照组MCF 7和MCF 7 vAd AAV细胞更早出现凋亡 .电镜下 ,NaBu或去血清诱导的MCF 7 vAdT AAV细胞更早出现凋亡形态学指标 .流式细胞分析和DNA片段凝胶电泳实验均显示MCF 7 vAdT AAV细胞对凋亡的抵抗力下降 .研究结果表明 ,端粒酶RNA的反义cDNA使乳腺癌MCF 7细胞的凋亡可诱导性增强     

Distinct patterns of mitochondrial changes precede induction of apoptosis by all-trans-retinoic acid and N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide in MCF7 breast cancer cells

The biochemical mechanisms of apoptosis-induction by all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) and N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4HPR) in cultured MCF7 cancer cells were studied by multiparameter flow cytometry. Retinoid treatment induced formation of two biochemically distinct cell subpopulations, which preceded the appearance of cells with fragmented nuclei. Exposure to atRA led to a transient increase in NADH level and mitochondrial oxidative turnover and a slow decline in reduced thiol level and mitochondrial membrane potential, suggesting that atRA treatment induces a transient defense mechanism. The synthetic retinoid 4HPR, in contrast, caused a gradual decrease in mitochondrial oxidative turnover and cardiolipin level together with a small decline in mitochondrial membrane potential, suggesting that 4HPR induces oxidation of cardiolipin and subsequent leakage of the mitochondria. Co-incubation with cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial permeability transition, did not prevent formation of fragmented nuclei or induction of changes in mitochondrial parameters by retinoids. Thus, the mitochondrial permeability transition does not appear to be involved in retinoid induction of apoptosis in MCF7 cells. Retinoid exposure of diploid human mammary epithelial cells induced mild oxidative stress but did not lead to formation of two cell subpopulations. We conclude that atRA and 4HPR induce apoptosis in MCF7 cells by two distinct and novel biochemical mechanisms.     

Furanodienone inhibits cell proliferation and survival by suppressing ERα signaling in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells

Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) plays an important role in the development and progression of breast cancer and thus the attenuation of ERα activities is a promising treatment strategy. Furanodienone is one of the main bioactive chemical components of Rhizoma Curcumae which is commonly used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of cancer. In this study, we investigated the effects of furanodienone on human breast cancer MCF‐7, T47D, and MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Our results showed that furanodienone could inhibit MCF‐7, T47D, and MDA‐MB‐231 cells proliferation in a dose (10–160 µM) dependent manner. ERα‐negative MDA‐MB‐231 cells were less sensitive to furanodienone than ERα‐positive MCF‐7 and T47D cells. Furanodienone could effectively block 17β‐estradiol (E2)‐stimulated MCF‐7 cell proliferation and cell cycle progression and induce apoptosis evidenced by the flow cytometric detection of sub‐G1 DNA content and the appearance of apoptotic nuclei after DAPI staining. Furanodienone specifically down‐regulated ERα protein and mRNA expression levels without altering ERβ expression. Furanodienone treatment inhibited E2‐stimulation of estrogen response element (ERE)‐driven reporter plasmid activity and ablated E2‐targeted gene (e.g., c‐Myc, Bcl‐2, and cyclin D1) expression which resulted in the inhibition of cell cycle progression and cell proliferation, and in the induction of apoptosis. Knockdown of ERα in MCF‐7 cells by ERα‐specific siRNA decreased the cell growth inhibitory effect of furanodienone. These findings suggest that effects of furanodienone on MCF‐7 cells are mediated, at least in part, by inhibiting ERα signaling. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 217–224, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Progesterone sensitizes breast cancer MCF7 cells to imatinib inhibitory effects

In previous studies, we found that progesterone was able to induce the expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in human breast cancer MCF7 cells. Knowing that imatinib mesylate targets PDGF receptor tyrosine kinase activity, the aim of the present study was to examine the effects of imatinib on progesterone-treated MCF7 cells. Expression of phosphorylated (activated) platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFRalpha) was detected in MCF7 cells. Interestingly, phosphorylated-PDGFRalpha expression was significantly downregulated by imatinib. The effects of imatinib on cell growth, apoptosis and migration were then analyzed. Imatinib effectively inhibited anchorage-dependent colony formation, and cell viability as evaluated by MTT assay. Corroborating these findings, a significant increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells was also observed when cells were treated with imatinib. Surprisingly, these inhibitory effects were all enhanced by the presence of progesterone. Cell migration assays did also show a reduction in the migratory capacity after incubation with imatinib. These findings reveal that imatinib acts by decreasing MCF7 cell viability, growth and migration, with concomitant increase in apoptosis. Furthermore, incubation with progesterone seems to prompt cells to the inhibitory action of imatinib, probably by sustaining PDGFRalpha activity. The current study points out imatinib as a possible therapeutic strategy in progesterone-dependent breast cancer.     

软骨多糖诱导MCF-7乳腺癌细胞凋亡的实验研究

研究软骨多糖诱导MCF-7乳腺癌细胞凋亡及其作用机理。方法:选用MCF-7人类乳腺癌细胞系体外培养,应用MTT法检测细胞生长抑制率,TUNEL法检测细胞凋亡率,HE染色法观察细胞形态学改变,流式细胞仪检测细胞周期的变化,免疫荧光方法检测BCL-2BAD及波形蛋白Vimentin的表达率。结果:软骨多糖对MCF-7细胞体外生长具有明显的抑制作用,且呈时间和浓度依赖性;软骨多糖可诱导MCF-7细胞发生凋亡并伴随有凋亡小体出现等形态学变化;软骨多糖促进BCL-2蛋白的表达水平下降,BAD表达水平上升,及Vimentin的降解。结论:软骨多糖能够在体外诱导MCF-7细胞凋亡,是一种新型的抗乳腺癌活性物质。