title: Induction of apoptosis in breast cancer cells by TPA.
abstract: Bcl-2, Bax and p53 gene products have been linked to programmed cell death pathways. p21WAF1 has been shown to mediate p53-induced cell cycle arrest and to inhibit cyclin-dependent kinase activity. We have analysed the expression of these genes and apoptosis induced by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in several human breast cancer cell line. We found up-regulation of p21WAF1 and Bax expressions, however, the expressions of p53 and Bcl-2 genes remained unchanged in TPA-treated cells. Furthermore, DNA ladder formation and PARP cleavage were observed after treatment for 24 h, indicating apoptotic cell death. Flow cytometry with 7-amino actinomycin D staining showed that the number of apoptotic cells increased with longer treatment of TPA. From these results, we conclude that TPA is not only a tumor promoter, but also induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells. TPA-induced apoptosis appears to be mediated through a p53-independent pathway, and the up-regulation of p21WAF1 and Bax may be the molecular mechanisms by which TPA induces apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhuiyan
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Mohammad
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Sarkar
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: C494826:BAX protein, human; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate