title: Emodin induces apoptosis of human breast cancer cells by modulating the expression of apoptosis-related genes.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of emodin on the proliferation of human breast cancer cells Bcap-37 and ZR-75-30. Cell viability following emodin treatment was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The effects of emodin on apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry using Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide staining. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were used to determine changes in the expression of apoptotic genes and protein, respectively. The effect of emodin on the invasiveness of breast cancer cells was evaluated by Matrigel invasion assay. Treatment of breast cancer cells Bcap-37 and ZR-75-30 with emodin was observed to inhibit the growth and induced apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Emodin reduced the level of Bcl-2 and increased levels of cleaved caspase-3, PARP, p53 and Bax. These findings indicate that emodin induces growth inhibition and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells. Emodin may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Lab 1, Cancer Institute, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Cong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Mingdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaopeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Center of Experiment Technology and Medical Research, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Lab 1, Cancer Institute, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Anning
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Lab 1, Cancer Institute, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Guangyuan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Lab 1, Cancer Institute, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chunshu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Lab 1, Cancer Institute, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China ; Department of Breast Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xinyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
keywords: apoptosis; breast carcinoma; emodin; growth inhibition