title: Influence of 2-methoxyestradiol on MCF-7 cells: an improved differential interference contrasting technique and Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression levels.
abstract: Proteins of the B-cell lymphoma 2 family are crucial for the regulation of apoptosis. B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X is a pro-apoptotic protein, while B-cell lymphoma 2 protein opposes apoptosis. The influence of 1 microM 2-methoxyestradiol was investigated on the expression levels of these two proteins in MCF-7 cells. 2-Methoxyestradiol exposure did not influence B-cell lymphoma 2 protein expression levels after 24 h of exposure. In contrast, B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X protein levels were significantly reduced. An improved differential interference contrasting technique revealed compromised cell density and the presence of a mitotic block in exposed cells. The study proposes that the influence of 2-methoxyestradiol on the expression of these proteins may be time- and cell type dependent and thus not evident during the mitotic block observed. Investigation of the regulation of the B-cell lymphoma 2 family will allow researchers to consider signaling pathways for diseases where apoptosis can potentially be controlled.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, P.O. Box 2034, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa. annie.joubert@up.ac.za
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joubert
authors.forename: Sumari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marais
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maritz
mesh_terms: D000077584:2-Methoxyestradiol; D017209:Apoptosis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: C494826:BAX protein, human; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D004958:Estradiol; D000077584:2-Methoxyestradiol; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide