Tanshinone IIA inhibits BT-20 human breast cancer cell proliferation through increasing caspase 12, GADD153 and phospho-p38 protein expression

  • Authors:
    • Meng-Yi Yan
    • Su-Yu Chien
    • Shou-Jen Kuo
    • Dar-Ren Chen
    • Chin-Cheng Su
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: February 7, 2012     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2012.908
  • Pages: 855-863
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Abstract

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. Tanshinone IIA (Tan-IIA) is one of the pure compounds from Salviae miltiorrhizae radix (Danshen). Tan-IIA can inhibit human breast cancer cells but the molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Our previous study showed that Tan-IIA can inhibit hep-J5 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells through the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptotic pathway. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of Tan-IIA on BT-20 human breast cancer cells and assessed the involvement of the ER-stress-apoptotic pathway. The cytotoxicity of Tan-IIA in BT-20 cells was measured by the MTT assay. The cell cycles were analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of ER stress-related proteins in BT-20 cells treated with Tan-IIA were evaluated by western blotting and immunocytochemical staining. These results showed that Tan-IIA can inhibit BT-20 cells and increase the sub-G1 phase in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Tan-IIA could increase the protein expression of caspase 12, GADD153, caspase 3, phospho-JNK, phospho-p38 and Bax, but decreased Bcl-xl and phospho-ERK expression in BT-20 cells. These findings indicate that Tan-IIA possesses therapeutic potential for human breast cancer BT-20 cells; one of the molecular mechanisms may be through inducing ER stress and the MAPK pathway to induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation.

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May 2012
Volume 29 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Yan M, Chien S, Kuo S, Chen D and Su C: Tanshinone IIA inhibits BT-20 human breast cancer cell proliferation through increasing caspase 12, GADD153 and phospho-p38 protein expression. Int J Mol Med 29: 855-863, 2012.
APA
Yan, M., Chien, S., Kuo, S., Chen, D., & Su, C. (2012). Tanshinone IIA inhibits BT-20 human breast cancer cell proliferation through increasing caspase 12, GADD153 and phospho-p38 protein expression. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 29, 855-863. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2012.908
MLA
Yan, M., Chien, S., Kuo, S., Chen, D., Su, C."Tanshinone IIA inhibits BT-20 human breast cancer cell proliferation through increasing caspase 12, GADD153 and phospho-p38 protein expression". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 29.5 (2012): 855-863.
Chicago
Yan, M., Chien, S., Kuo, S., Chen, D., Su, C."Tanshinone IIA inhibits BT-20 human breast cancer cell proliferation through increasing caspase 12, GADD153 and phospho-p38 protein expression". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 29, no. 5 (2012): 855-863. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2012.908