title: Phloretin induces apoptosis in H-Ras MCF10A human breast tumor cells through the activation of p53 via JNK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling.
abstract: Mutations in Ras play a critical role in the development of human cancers, including breast cancer. We investigated the possible antiproliferative effects of the naturally occurring dihydrochalcone phloretin [2',4',6'-trihydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propiophenone] on H-Ras-transformed MCF10A human breast epithelial (H-Ras MCF10A) cells. Phloretin suppressed H-Ras MCF10A cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner and induced nuclear condensation in the cells, indicating that phloretin-induced cell death occurs mainly via the induction of apoptosis. Prominent upregulation of p53 and Bax and cleavage of poly (ADP)-ribose polymerase were also detected in the phloretin-treated cells. Finally, phloretin markedly increased caspase-3 activity as well as JNK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. Our findings suggest that the phloretin-induced apoptosis of breast tumor cells contributes to the chemopreventive potential of phloretin against breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Sung
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Nam Joo
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ki Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyong Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010693:Phloretin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D053148:Caspase 3; D010693:Phloretin