title: Influence of anthocyanins, derivative pigments and other catechol and pyrogallol-type phenolics on breast cancer cell proliferation.
abstract: Anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-glucoside (Cy-3-gluc) and delphinidin-3-glucoside (Dp-3-gluc)) and their respective vinylpyranoanthocyanin-catechins (portisins) were studied in order to evaluate the cytotoxicity effect on the estrogen responsive human breast cancer cell line (ER+) MCF-7 and their effect on estrogen receptor (ER-alpha and ER-beta) expression. Other flavonoid classes and phenolic molecules were also tested, aiming to study possible structural features related with these effects. Also, the antiproliferative effect of Cy-3-gluc and Dp-3-gluc was studied by an immunofluorescence assay. Generally, all the anthocyanin pigments studied inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, the growth of the (ER+) MCF-7. The cytotoxicity effect was higher when cells were treated with Dp-3-gluc and its respective portisin. Altogether, the results point to the ortho trihydroxylated moiety in the phenolic ring as an important structural feature for more potent cytotoxicity effect on MCF-7 cells comparatively to the effect observed with the similar dihydroxylated compounds. In order to elucidate the molecular mechanism involved, expression of estrogen receptor was assayed by RT-PCR and real time RT-PCR. The higher antiproliferative effect observed after cell treatment with Dp-3-gluc was not followed by modification on ER expression. However, the anthocyanin Cy-3-gluc was able to induce a downregulation of ER levels although with no significant effect on MCF-7 proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Investigation Centre (CIQ), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Conceição
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calhau
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Freitas
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mateus
mesh_terms: D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002396:Catechols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D011748:Pyrogallol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D002396:Catechols; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011748:Pyrogallol; C034221:catechol