title: Embelin inhibits proliferation, induces apoptosis and alters gene expression profiles in breast cancer cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate effect of embelin on proliferation, apoptosis and gene expression profile changes in breast cancer cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell viability was determined by MTT assay and apoptosis assayed using flow cytometry. Differential expression of 84 genes commonly involved in breast cancer carcinogenesis was assessed by real-time PCR using the Human Breast Cancer RT(2) Profiler PCR Array.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with embelin (0-25μM) for 24 and 96h. Embelin exhibited time and dose dependence in both cell lines and was more potent in inhibiting MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation compared to MCF-7 cells. IC50 for embelin in MDA-MB-231 cells was ∼4.45μM and 3.28μM at 24h and 96h, respectively. In contrast, IC50 for embelin in MCF-7 cells was ∼6.04μM and 4.51μM at 24h and 96h, respectively. Embelin (50μM) induced apoptosis and activated caspase 3 activity in both cell lines when exposed for 72h. Treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with embelin (10μM) for 24h resulted in significant differential expression of 27 genes commonly involved in breast cancer carcinogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show that embelin inhibits cell proliferation, induces apoptosis and alters expression of breast cancer focused genes in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Based on RT(2)-PCR array analysis, embelin down-regulated expression of pivotal oncogenes. This knowledge could be beneficial in the development of effective embelin-based therapies for treating breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chicago State University, Chicago, USA.
authors.forename: Priyank
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chicago State University, Chicago, USA.
authors.forename: Ransford
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Djisam
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chicago State University, Chicago, USA.
authors.forename: Hamidah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Damulira
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chicago State University, Chicago, USA.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aganze
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chicago State University, Chicago, USA. Electronic address: mdanquah@csu.edu.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Danquah
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D016227:Benzoquinones; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein; C496866:XIAP protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; C010945:embelin
keywords: Apoptosis; Breast cancer; Embelin; Gene expression profiling; RT(2) Profiler PCR Array