title: Growth arrest and non-apoptotic programmed cell death associated with the up-regulation of c-myc mRNA expression in T-47D breast tumor cells following exposure to Epipremnum pinnatum (L.) Engl. hexane extract.
abstract: Epipremnum pinnatum (L.) Engl. hexane extract produced a significant growth inhibition against T-47D breast carcinoma cells and analysis of cell death mechanisms indicated that the extract elicited a non-apoptotic programmed cell death. T-47D cells exposed to the extract at EC(50) concentration (72 h) for 24 h failed to demonstrate typical DNA fragmentation associated with apoptosis, as carried out using a modified TUNEL assay. In addition, acute exposure to the extract produced an insignificant regulation of caspase-3 and p53 mRNA expression but increased in the c-myc mRNA expression. Ultrastructural analysis using transmission electron microscope demonstrated distinct vacuolated cells, which strongly indicated a Type II non-apoptotic cell death although the changes in chromatin were also detected. The presence of non-apoptotic programmed cell death was then reconfirmed with annexin-V and propidium iodide staining. These findings suggested that up-regulation of c-myc mRNA expression may have contributed to the growth arrest and Type II non-apoptotic programmed cell death in the Epipremnum pinnatum (L.) Engl. hexane extract-treated T-47D cells.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: T S Tengku
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Najimudin
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Sulaiman
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029064:Araceae; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D005260:Female; D016259:Genes, myc; D016158:Genes, p53; D006586:Hexanes; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D006586:Hexanes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases