title: Oleuropein induces apoptosis via the p53 pathway in breast cancer cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer is a major health problem worldwide. Olive oil induces apoptosis in some cancer cells due to phenolic compounds like oleuropein. Although oleuropein has anticancer activity, the underlying mechanisms of action remain unknown. The study aimed to assess the mechanism of oleuropin-induced breast cancer cell apoptosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  p53, Bcl-2 and Bax gene expression was evaluated by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in luminal MCF-7 cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oleuropein-induced apoptosis was accompanied by up-regulation of both p53 and Bax gene expression levels and down-regulation in Bcl2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oleuropein induces apoptosis in breast tumour cells via a p53-dependent pathway mediated by Bax and Bcl2 genes. Therefore, oleuropein may have therapeutic potential in breast cancer patients by inducing apoptosis via activation of the p53 pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia E-mail : hildahafez@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Zeinab Korany
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Maha Hussein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Elamin
authors.forename: Sawsan Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Omer
authors.forename: Maha Hassan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Daghestani
authors.forename: Ebtesam Salah
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Al-Olayan
authors.forename: Mai Abdelrahman
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Elobeid
authors.forename: Promy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Virk
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D057888:Iridoid Glucosides; D039823:Iridoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; C494826:BAX protein, human; D057888:Iridoid Glucosides; D039823:Iridoids; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C002769:oleuropein