Differentially expressed proteins of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells affected by Zilongjin, a complementary Chinese herbal medicine.
OBJECTIVE
Zilongjin, a complementary Chinese herbal medicine, has been used to alleviate the adverse effects of chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer therapy. However, the mechanisms of anti-cancer activity of Zilongjin are still largely unkonwn.


METHODS
First, the proteomic approach of combined 2-DE and ESI-MS/MS was used to investigate the effect of Zilongjin on the protein expression in MCF-7 cells. Then, the differential expression of some proteins was confirmed by Western blot, cytoimmunofluoresecnce, and quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis.


RESULTS
The identified proteins with differential expression, involved in such events as protein translation, cellular signal transduction, cytoskeleton formation and transportation, include seven downregulating proteins, such as Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit I, Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 1A Y-chromosomal, Ran-specific GTPase-activating protein, Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 N, Tropomodulin-3, Macrophage-capping protein, and Tumor protein D52, as well as two upregulating proteins, HSP β-1 and keratin18. Moreover, the differential expression of three proteins was confirmed.


CONCLUSIONS
(i) These results provide a new insight into the molecular mechanisms of Zilongjin on therapy for breast cancer. (ii) The application of the proteomic approaches will result in the more extended appreciation of Chinese medicine than those known at present.
Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, Peking University School of Oncology, Beijing Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, PR China.
Zhi-Hua
ZH
Tian
Zheng-Fu
ZF
Li
Shao-Bo
SB
Zhou
Yun-Yan
YY
Liang
Da-Cheng
DC
He
Dai-Shu
DS
Wang
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects; D040901:Proteomics; D015854:Up-Regulation
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C558114:zilongjin