[Effect of ferulic acid on proliferation and mechanism in human breast cancer cells].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate phytoestrogenic effects of ferulic acid in ER-positive T47D and ER-negative MDA-MB231 cells in culture.


METHODS
T47D and MDA-MB231 human breast cancer cells were treated with ferulic acid and examined cell proliferation by means of MTT assay. Cell cycle distribution, ERalpha and ERbeta expression were treated by flow cytometer. The pS2 mRNA expressions were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.


RESULTS
The proliferations were enhanced significantly by treatment with ferulic acid on T47D cells and the proliferation effects were inhibited by adding Faslodex (1 x 10(-8) mol x L(-1)). However, there was no significant difference on the proliferation in MDA-MB-231 cells compared with solvent control group by both treatment with ferulic acid and co-treatment with Faslodex (1 x 10(-8) mol x L(-1)). Ferulic acid stimulated the amount of T47D cells in phase S and proliferation index increased significantly. The effects were inhibited by treatment with Faslodex (1 x 10(-8) mol x L(-1)), and the amount of cells in phase S and proliferation index decreased, the amount of cells in G0/G1 phase increased, cell cycle of T47D was arrested in G0/G1 phase. Ferulic acid up-regulated pS2 mRNA expressions and increased the level of ERalpha protein expression in T47D cells. Ferulic acid did not show remarkable effect to the level of ERbeta protein expression in T47D cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Ferulic acid possessed phytoestrogenic effect by up-regulating pS2 gene expression and the receptor subtype of ERalpha.
Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medicinal Sciences, Beijing 100700, China. haoqingxiu@163.com
Qingxiu
Q
Hao
Piwen
P
Zhao
Jianzhao
J
Niu
Jifeng
J
Wang
Jie
J
Yu
Xiaoou
X
Xue
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000032:analysis; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D003373:Coumaric Acids; C506487:ESR1 protein, human; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C051838:TFF1 protein, human; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C004999:ferulic acid