title: The defensin from avocado (Persea americana var. drymifolia) PaDef induces apoptosis in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7.
abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are cytotoxic to cancer cells; however, mainly the effects of AMPs from animals have been evaluated. In this work, we assessed the cytotoxicity of PaDef defensin from avocado (Persea americana var. drymifolia) on the MCF-7 cancer cell line (a breast cancer cell line) and evaluated its mechanism of action. PaDef inhibited the viability of MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC50=141.62μg/ml. The viability of normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells was unaffected by this AMP. Additionally, PaDef induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells in a time-dependent manner, but did not affect the membrane potential or calcium flow. In addition, PaDef IC50 induced the expression of cytochrome c, Apaf-1, and the caspase 7 and 9 genes. Likewise, this defensin induced the loss of mitochondrial Δψm and increased the phosphorylation of MAPK p38, which may lead to MCF-7 apoptosis by the intrinsic pathway. This is the first report of an avocado defensin inducing intrinsic apoptosis in cancer cells, which suggests that it could be a potential therapeutic molecule in the treatment of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Centro Multidisciplinario de Estudios en Biotecnología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Km 9.5 Carretera Morelia-Zinapécuaro. Posta Veterinaria, C.P. 58893, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.
authors.forename: Jaquelina Julia
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Guzmán-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Edif. B1, C.P. 58030, Ciudad Universitaria, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: López-Gómez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Edif. B1, C.P. 58030, Ciudad Universitaria, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salgado-Garciglia
authors.affiliation: Centro Multidisciplinario de Estudios en Biotecnología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Km 9.5 Carretera Morelia-Zinapécuaro. Posta Veterinaria, C.P. 58893, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ochoa-Zarzosa
authors.affiliation: Centro Multidisciplinario de Estudios en Biotecnología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Km 9.5 Carretera Morelia-Zinapécuaro. Posta Veterinaria, C.P. 58893, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. Electronic address: elmeza@umich.mx.
authors.forename: Joel E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: López-Meza
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D023082:Defensins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D027421:Persea / Q000737:chemistry*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D023082:Defensins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Antimicrobial peptides; Apoptosis; Avocado; Breast cancer