title: 2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl methyl ether induces growth inhibition and apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.
abstract: In this study, we investigated the effects of 2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl methyl ether (TDB), isolated from Symphyocladia latiuscula (marine red algae), on the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. TDB treatment for 48 h inhibited cancer cell growth and induced DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, morphological characterizations such as apoptotic bodies and membrane blebs were shown by electronic microscopy. TDB-induced apoptosis in the MCF-7 cells was closely linked with the down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expression and the cleavage of caspase-3 substrates, with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage occurring by TDB treatment. TDB treatment also caused a marked increase in the level of p21WAF1/CIP1 protein in a p53-dependent manner. In addition, the upregulation of p21WAF1/CIP1 in the MCF-7 cells was related to a decrease in c-Myc protein in a dose-dependent manner. Based on our data, TDB is a good candidate for further evaluation as an effective chemotherapeutic agent, acting through the induction of apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacy (BK21 Program), College of Pharmacy, Research Institute for Drug Development, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Hyeon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Mohammad Akbar
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Min Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mi-Na
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hae Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Jae Sue
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Nam Deuk
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000032:analysis; D004987:Ethers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000032:analysis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C439224:2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl methyl ether; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D004987:Ethers; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53