Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue Decoction, a Chinese herbal formula, down-regulates the expression of steroid sulfatase genes in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells.
BACKGROUND
Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue Decoction (SGLXD), a traditional Chinese herbal formula, has been used to ameliorate hot flushes symptom in breast cancer patients for decades.


OBJECTIVE
Steroid sulfatase (STS) has a crucial role in regulating the estrogen biosynthesis within breast tumors. We aimed to investigate whether SGLXD could modulate STS expression in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells.


METHODS
By semi-quantitative/quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, we investigated the transcript level of STS in MCF-7 cells treated with various concentrations of SGLXD. By using transient cotransfection with estrogen dependent plasmid pERE-TK-Luc and internal control plasmid pRL-TK in MCF-7 cells and dual luciferase reporter (DLR) based bioluminescent measurements, we evaluated the enzymatic activity of STS after SGLXD treatment.


RESULTS
By RT-PCR and real time PCR, the mRNA level of STS was decreased by SGLXD treatment, in the dose-dependent manner, compared to negative control (p<0.01). By DLR assay, different concentrations of SGLXD significantly inhibited the enzymatic activity of STS in MCF-7 cells dose-dependently (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
SGLXD could act as a selective estrogen enzyme modulator by down-regulating the STS expression in MCF-7 cells.
Zhang
Yi
Y
Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Peking University School of Basic Medical Science, Beijing, PR China.
Li
Ping-Ping
PP
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D010957:Plasmids; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D043266:Steryl-Sulfatase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D004967:Estrogens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D008156:Luciferases; D043266:Steryl-Sulfatase