title: Pro-apoptotic mechanisms of action of a novel vitamin E analog (alpha-TEA) and a naturally occurring form of vitamin E (delta-tocotrienol) in MDA-MB-435 human breast cancer cells.
abstract: Vitamin E derivative, RRR-alpha-tocopheryl succinate (vitamin E succinate, VES), is a potent pro-apoptotic agent, inducing apoptosis by restoring both transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and Fas (CD95) apoptotic signaling pathways that contribute to the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-mediated apoptosis. Objectives of these studies were to characterize signaling events involved in the pro-apoptotic actions of a naturally occurring form of vitamin E, delta-tocotrienol, and a novel vitamin E analog, alpha-tocopherol ether acetic acid analog [alpha-TEA; 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2R-(4R,8R,12-trimethyltridecyl)chroman-6-yloxyacetic acid]. Like VES, alpha-TEA and delta-tocotrienol induced estrogen-nonresponsive MDA-MB-435 and estrogen-responsive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells to undergo high levels of apoptosis in a concentration- and time-dependent fashion. Like VES, the two compounds induced either no or lower levels of apoptosis in normal human mammary epithelial cells and immortalized but nontumorigenic human MCF-10A cells. The pro-apoptotic mechanisms triggered by the structurally distinct alpha-TEA and delta-tocotrienol were identical to those previously reported for VES, that is, alpha-TEA- and delta-tocotrienol-induced apoptosis involved up-regulation of TGF-beta receptor II expression and TGF-beta-, Fas- and JNK-signaling pathways. These data provide a better understanding of the anticancer actions of a dietary form of vitamin E (delta-tocotrienol) and a novel nonhydrolyzable vitamin E analog (alpha-TEA).
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutrition/A2703, University of Texas at Austin, 78712, USA.
authors.forename: Ming-Chieh
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Shun
authors.forename: Weiping
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gapor
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: Bob G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kline
mesh_terms: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D024505:Tocopherols; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D019014:fas Receptor; D014810:Vitamin E; C082097:tocotrienol, delta; C488288:2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2R-(4R,8R,12-trimethyltridecyl)chroman-6-yloxy acetic acid; D024505:Tocopherols