Casticin induces breast cancer cell apoptosis by inhibiting the expression of forkhead box protein M1.
Casticin is an active ingredient derived from Fructus Viticis, a traditional Chinese medicine. This study aimed to investigate the role of forkhead box O3 (FOXO3a) in breast cancer cells and examine the regulatory mechanisms of FOXO3a in response to casticin treatment of the cells by ELISA, flow cytometry, small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection and western blot analysis. Casticin treatment induced apoptosis and reduced the expression of the transcription factor forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1). In addition, FOXM1 repression induced by casticin treatment was associated with the activation of FOXO3a via increased dephosphorylation. Notably, silencing FOXO3a expression by siRNA-mediated gene knockdown attenuated casticin-mediated apoptosis. Collectively, these findings suggest that FOXO3a is a critical mediator of the inhibitory effects of casticin on apoptosis in breast cancer cells.
The Breast Department, Hunan Province Tumor Hospital, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China.
Li-Ping
LP
Liu
Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China.
Xiao-Cheng
XC
Cao
Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China.
Fei
F
Liu
Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China.
Mei-Fang
MF
Quan
Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China.
Xi-Feng
XF
Sheng
Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China.
Kai-Qun
KQ
Ren
breast cancer; casticin; forkhead box O3; forkhead box protein M1; therapeutic targets