title: Benzoquinone from Fusarium pigment inhibits the proliferation of estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 cells through the NF-κB pathway via estrogen receptor signaling.
abstract: Natural pigments are known for possessing a wide range of pharmacological and health-promoting properties. The pigments, produced by a new strain Fusarium (Fusarium sp. JN158) previously identified in our laboratory, were found to have 6 peaks (representing 6 compounds) by high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) separation. The 6th peak compound (compound VI) is a benzoquinone compound. In this study, we examined the effects of compound VI on the proliferation of breast cancer cells and aimed to elucidate the underlying mechamisms. Compound VI exerted anti-proliferative effects on MCF‑7 estrogen receptor (ER)+ cells in a dose-dependent manner (IC25, 7 µM; IC50, 11 µM), whereas it had no effect on MDA‑MB‑231 ER- cells and normal cells. The cell index (CI) began to decrease at 24 h following treatment with benzoquinone. Mechanistically, the results from molecular analysis revealed that compound VI inhibited the expression of ERα, progesterone receptor (PR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Bcl-2, cyclin D1 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65, while it increased the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax in the MCF‑7 cells. Taken together, our findings indicate that compound VI exerts anti-proliferative effects on MCF‑7 cells through the NF-κB pathway via the regulation of ER signaling. Our data may indicate that benzoquinone from Fusarium pigment may have potential for use as an anti-proliferative agent in the treatment of breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: College of Biology Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lixiang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: College of Biology Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yujian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: School of Computer Science, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330004, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: School of Basic Medicine, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330004, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Basic Medicine, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330004, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaoying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: School of Basic Medicine, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330004, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Airen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.affiliation: School of Basic Medicine, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330004, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xianming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: School of Basic Medicine, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330004, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Minjuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: College of Biology Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiangru
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005670:Fusarium / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D008954:Models, Biological; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016227:Benzoquinones; C530104:CCND1 protein, human; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D019938:Cyclin D1; D053148:Caspase 3