Inhibitory effects of fucoxanthinol on the viability of human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 are correlated with modulation of the NF-kappaB pathway.
Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid present in the chloroplasts of brown seaweeds. When ingested, it is metabolized mainly to fucoxanthinol in the gastrointestinal tract by digestive enzymes. These compounds have been shown to have many beneficial health effects. The present study was designed to evaluate the molecular mechanisms of action of fucoxanthin and/or of its metabolite fucoxanthinol against viability of estrogen-sensitive MCF-7 and estrogen-resistant MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. Fucoxanthin and fucoxanthinol reduced the viability of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in dose- and time-dependent manners as a result of increased apoptosis. Furthermore, fucoxanthinol-induced apoptosis was more potent than that of fucoxanthin and correlated, for MDA-MB-231 cells, with inhibitory actions on members of the NF-κB pathway p65, p50, RelB, and p52. Being overexpressed and regulated by NF-κB in different types of cancers, the transcription factor SOX9 was also decreased at the nuclear level by fucoxanthin and fucoxanthinol in MDA-MB-231. Taken together, the current results suggest that fucoxanthinol and fucoxanthin could be potentially effective for the treatment and/or prevention of different types of cancers, including breast cancer.
Biology Department, Université de Moncton, 18, avenue Antonine Maillet, Moncton, NB, E1A 3E9, Canada.
Arlette
A
Rwigemera
Jean
J
Mamelona
Luc J
LJ
Martin
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D052002:NF-kappa B p50 Subunit / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052003:NF-kappa B p52 Subunit / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051841:Transcription Factor RelB / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
D052002:NF-kappa B p50 Subunit; D052003:NF-kappa B p52 Subunit; C498143:RELA protein, human; C497593:RELB protein, human; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor; C527932:SOX9 protein, human; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene; C025164:fucoxanthin; D051841:Transcription Factor RelB; C483031:fucoxanthinol; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases