title: First report of a haemagglutinin-induced apoptotic pathway in breast cancer cells.
abstract: A dimeric 64 kDa HA (haemagglutinin) was isolated with a high yield from dried Phaseolus vulgaris cultivar 'French bean number 35' seeds. It inhibited the proliferation of hepatoma HepG2 cells and breast cancer MCF-7 cells with an IC50 of 100 and 2 microM respectively. After exposure of MCF-7 cells to the HA for 24 h, a number of changes were detected in the cells. Growth arrest in the G0/G1 and G2/M phases was observed. The number of cells undergoing early apoptosis and late apoptosis increased. Disruption of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and disorganization of the inner mitochondrial membrane were induced. Western-blot analysis disclosed that the HA induced apoptosis through the death receptor-mediated pathway.
authors.affiliation: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Sze Kwan
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Tzi Bun
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D027805:Phaseolus / Q000737:chemistry; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006388:Hemagglutinins