Resveratrol-induced cell inhibition of growth and apoptosis in MCF7 human breast cancer cells are associated with modulation of phosphorylated Akt and caspase-9.
Resveratrol (trans-3,4N,-5-trihydroxystilbene), a phytoalexin present in grapes and red wine, is emerging as a natural compound with potential anticancer properties. Here we show that resveratrol affects the growth of human breast cancer cell lines MCF7, MDA-MB-231, SK-BR-3, and Bcap-37 in a dose-dependent manner and that MCF7 is the most sensitive among the four cell lines. MCF7 cells treated with resveratrol showed typical characteristics of apoptosis including the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling-positive staining, and morphologic changes. Phosphorylation of the oncogene product Akt was significantly reduced followed by decreased phosphorylation and increased processing of pro-caspase-9 on resveratrol treatment. These results indicate that resveratrol seems to exert its growth-inhibitory/apoptotic effect on the breast cancer cell line MCF7 via the Akt-caspase-9 pathway.
Li
Yan
Y
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and The State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Liu
Junye
J
Liu
Xinping
X
Xing
Kefei
K
Wang
Yun
Y
Li
Fuyang
F
Yao
Libo
L
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D000077185:Resveratrol; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D013267:Stilbenes; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt; D053453:Caspase 9; D000077185:Resveratrol