title: Effects of 5-Aza-CdR on the proliferation of human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and on the expression of Apaf-1 gene.
abstract: Hypermethylation in the promoter region of tumor suppressor genes is a common mechanism of gene silencing, which tends to occur in cancer. The effects of 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR), a specific DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, on the cell proliferation of human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and on the expression of Apaf-1 gene were investigated. Human MCF-7 cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of 5-Aza-CdR for 12 to 120 h. The growth inhibition rates of MCF-7 cells were detected by MTT assay. Changes of cell cycle distribution and apoptotic rates of MCF-7 cells were determined by flow cytometry. The expressions of DNA methyltransferase 3b mRNA and Apaf-1 mRNA were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Meanwhile, the expression of Apaf-1 protein was detected by Western blotting. The results showed that 5-Aza-CdR significantly inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells and the growth inhibition rate of MCF-7 cells was significantly enhanced with the concentration of 5-Aza-CdR and the action time. Flow cytometry indicated that 5-Aza-CdR could significantly induce G(1)/S cell cycle arrest and increase the apoptosis rate of MCF-7 cells. The mRNA and protein expressions of Apaf-1 were up-regulated in MCF-7 cells treated with 5-Aza-CdR, which was accompanied by down-regulation of DNA methyltransferase 3b mRNA. It is concluded that 5-Aza-CdR might retard the growth of tumor cells and promote the apoptosis of MCF-7 breast cancer cells by inhibiting the expression of DNA methyltransferase 3b and re-activating the Apaf-1 gene expression.
authors: Cancer Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China. xionghuihua@medmail.com.cn
authors: Huihua
authors: H
authors: Xiong
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Qiu
authors: Liang
authors: L
authors: Zhuang
authors: Hua
authors: H
authors: Xiong
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Jiang
authors: Yuan
authors: Y
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001374:Azacitidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000077209:Decitabine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C506592:APAF1 protein, human; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000077209:Decitabine; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; D001374:Azacitidine