title: Involvement of stress activated protein kinases (JNK and p38) in 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced breast cell death.
abstract: It has been previously demonstrated that 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25-D(3)) exerts inhibitory effects in breast cancer cells. The aim of this study was to determine whether mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are associated with 1,25-D(3)-induced cell death in breast cancer. We used three breast cell lines which have different sensitivities to 1,25-D(3) treatment. Non-malignant MCF-12A cells were more sensitive to 1,25-D(3) treatment than malignant MCF-7 cells (growth inhibition IC(50) 75 nM vs. 100 nM, p<0.001) while malignant MDA-MB-231 cells were resistant. Moreover, 1,25-D(3)-induced apoptosis was caspase-dependent in MCF-12A cells and caspase-independent in MCF-7 cells. Following MAPK activation analysis, we found a significant activation of JNK in MCF-12A cells and malignant MCF-7 cells in response to 1,25-D(3) treatment. Furthermore, 1,25-D(3) treatment stimulated p38 activity in MCF-12A cells and in MCF-7 cells. ERK1/2 activity was unaffected by 1,25-D(3) treatment in all breast cells. Importantly, no increased MAPK activity was observed in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells which displayed resistance to 1,25-D(3)-induced apoptosis. Utilising specific pharmacological inhibitors of JNK and p38, it was demonstrated that MCF-12A and MCF-7 cells were protected from death induced by 1,25-D(3). These results implicate JNK and p38 signalling in 1,25-D(3)-induced cancer breast cell death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Division of Clinical Sciences, St George's University of London, London, UK. cbrossea@sgul.ac.uk
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Brosseau
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pirianov
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Colston
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D002117:Calcitriol