Apoptosis induced by β,β‑dimethylacrylshikonin is associated with Bcl‑2 and NF‑κB in human breast carcinoma MCF‑7 cells

Xiong,Yao; Ma,Xiu‑Ying; Zhang,Ziran; Shao,Zhen‑Jun; Zhang,Yuan‑Yuan; Zhou,Li‑Ming

doi:10.3892/ol.2013.1613

Apoptosis induced by β,β‑dimethylacrylshikonin is associated with Bcl‑2 and NF‑κB in human breast carcinoma MCF‑7 cells

Authors:
- Yao Xiong
- Xiu‑Ying Ma
- Ziran Zhang
- Zhen‑Jun Shao
- Yuan‑Yuan Zhang
- Li‑Ming Zhou
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Affiliations: Department of Pharmacology, Preclinical and Forensic Medical College, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China, Hongjitang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Jinan, Shandong 250000, P.R. China
Published online on: October 10, 2013 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2013.1613
Pages: 1789-1793

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Abstract

β,β‑dimethylacrylshikonin (DA) is a natural naphthoquinone derivative compound of Lithospermum erythrorhizon with various biological activities. The present study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects and underlying mechanisms of DA in human breast carcinoma MCF‑7 cells. The 3‑(4,5‑dimethylthiazol‑2‑yl)‑2,5‑diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay showed that DA inhibited the proliferation of MCF‑7 cells in a dose‑ and time‑dependent manner. The half maximal inhibitory concentration of DA with regard to the proliferation of MCF‑7 cells was 0.050±0.016 mM. The characteristics of cell apoptosis, including cell shrinkage, nuclear pyknosis and chromatin condensation, were all observed in DA‑treated cells. DA decreased the expression levels of Bcl‑2 and increased the expression of Bax and caspase‑3 compared with those in the control. DA inhibited the activity of the nuclear factor (NF)‑κB pathway, by downregulating the expression of the p65 subunit, and inhibited the Iκb phosphorylation. DA inhibits the proliferation of MCF‑7 cells in vitro by inducing apoptosis through the downregulation of Bcl‑2, upregulation of Bax and partial inactivation of the NF‑κB pathway.

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