title: Induction of growth arrest and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells by 3,3-diindolylmethane is associated with induction and nuclear localization of p27kip.
abstract: 3,3'-Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a stable condensation product of indole-3-carbanol, a potential breast cancer chemoprevention agent. Human breast cancer cell lines were studied to better understand its mechanisms. In vitro experiments were done in MCF-7, T47D, BT-20 and BT-474 cells using MTT, ELISA, immunoblotting assays, reverse transcription-PCR, protein half-life, confocal microscopy, cell fractionation, and immunoprecipitation assays. We found that DIM inhibited the growth of all four breast cancer cell lines (IC(50)s, 25-56 micromol/L). Because BT-20 and BT-474 overexpressed Her-2 and activated Akt, and BT-20 lacks estrogen receptor, these were studied further. In both cell lines, DIM appeared to induce expression of p27(kip) protein before the loss of cell viability and apoptosis. In BT-20 cells, DIM also inhibited expression of activated Akt, but this appeared after p27(kip) induction. In both cell lines, DIM induced p27(kip) transcript expression within 6 h. DIM prolonged the p27(kip) protein half-life in BT-20 but not BT-474 cells. We also showed, for the first time, that DIM induced nuclear localization of p27(kip) in both cell lines. Moreover, in BT-20 cells, DIM induced a decrease in p27(kip) phosphorylation at Thr(187), and its association with the 14-3-3 protein, which helped to explain the protein half-life increase and nuclear localization, respectively. DIM modulates p27(kip) through transcription, prolongation of protein half-life, and nuclear localization. These effects appear to be independent of Her-2, Akt, or estrogen receptor status and should support further study for its chemoprevention potential in breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Zhiwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bennett W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: K M Wahidur
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Fakhara
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Fazlul H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Sarkar
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D018734:Genes, erbB-2; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt / Q000235:genetics; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000187:drug effects; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt; C016392:3,3'-diindolylmethane