title: Different apoptotic effects of saxifragifolin C in human breast cancer cells.
abstract: Breast cancer is currently the most common form of cancer affecting women. Recent studies have reported that triterpenoid saponins isolated from Androsace umbellata exhibit anti-proliferative effects in several types of cancer cells. However, the cytotoxic effect of saxifragifolin C (Saxi C) on breast cancer cells remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the in vitro anti-tumor activity of Saxi C in human breast cancer cells. Our data indicated that MDA-MB-231 cells were more sensitive than MCF-7 cells to Saxi C treatment. In addition, Saxi C inhibited cell survival through the induction of reactive oxygen species and the caspase-dependent pathway in the MDA-MB-231 cells, whereas MCF-7 cells treated with Saxi C underwent the apoptotic cell death in a caspase-independent manner. Although Saxi C treatment resulted in the induction of activation of MAPKs in both types of human breast cancer cells, p38 MAPK and JNK, but not ERK1/2, appeared to be involved in Saxi C-induced apoptosis. Moreover, ERα-overexpressing MDA-MB-231 cells remained alive, whereas the survival of shERα-transfected MCF-7 cells decreased. Taken together, Saxi C induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells via different regulatory mechanisms, and ERα status might be essential for regulating Saxi C-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Thus, Saxi C is a potential chemotherapeutic agent in breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Kyunggi-do, 440-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Kyunggi-do, 440-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Kyunggi-do, 440-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.affiliation: School of Food Science & Biotechnology, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Oh
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Kyunggi-do, 440-746, Republic of Korea. snpyo@skku.edu.
authors.forename: Suhkneung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pyo
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D029623:Primulaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D012503:Saponins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012503:Saponins; C000613481:saxifragifolin C; D020169:Caspases
keywords: ERα; MAPK; MCF-7 cell; MDA-MB-231 cell; ROS; Saxifragifolin C