Open Access

Alantolactone induces apoptosis and suppresses migration in MCF‑7 human breast cancer cells via the p38 MAPK, NF‑κB and Nrf2 signaling pathways

  • Authors:
    • Jianli Liu
    • Meijia Liu
    • Shuai Wang
    • Yin He
    • Yapeng Huo
    • Zhijun Yang
    • Xiangyu Cao
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 4, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2018.3751
  • Pages: 1847-1856
  • Copyright: © Liu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Human breast cancer is a malignant type of cancer with high prevalence. In the present study, the anticancer effects of alantolactone, a sesquiterpene lactone, on the human breast cancer cell line MCF‑7 were investigated in vitro. The MCF‑7 cell morphology changed from diamond to round subsequent to treatment with alantolactone, and the cell viability reduced significantly compared with that of the control cells. Alantolactone induced apoptosis of MCF‑7 cells by regulating the protein expression levels of B‑cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‑2), Bcl‑2‑associated X protein, p53, caspase‑3 and caspase‑12, which are associated with the apoptotic pathway, and suppressed colony formation and migration by regulating the protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‑2, MMP‑7 and MMP‑9. Cell signaling pathway analysis confirmed that alantolactone increased the phosphorylation of p38, and decreased the nuclear expression levels of p65 and nuclear factor erythroid 2‑related factor 2 (Nrf2), suggesting that the apoptosis‑promoting and migration‑suppressing effect of alantolactone may partially depend on regulating the p38 MAPK, NF‑κB and Nrf2 pathways. These results also suggested that alantolactone may become a potential therapeutic strategy for treating breast cancer.
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October-2018
Volume 42 Issue 4

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

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Spandidos Publications style
Liu J, Liu M, Wang S, He Y, Huo Y, Yang Z and Cao X: Alantolactone induces apoptosis and suppresses migration in MCF‑7 human breast cancer cells via the p38 MAPK, NF‑κB and Nrf2 signaling pathways. Int J Mol Med 42: 1847-1856, 2018
APA
Liu, J., Liu, M., Wang, S., He, Y., Huo, Y., Yang, Z., & Cao, X. (2018). Alantolactone induces apoptosis and suppresses migration in MCF‑7 human breast cancer cells via the p38 MAPK, NF‑κB and Nrf2 signaling pathways. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 42, 1847-1856. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2018.3751
MLA
Liu, J., Liu, M., Wang, S., He, Y., Huo, Y., Yang, Z., Cao, X."Alantolactone induces apoptosis and suppresses migration in MCF‑7 human breast cancer cells via the p38 MAPK, NF‑κB and Nrf2 signaling pathways". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 42.4 (2018): 1847-1856.
Chicago
Liu, J., Liu, M., Wang, S., He, Y., Huo, Y., Yang, Z., Cao, X."Alantolactone induces apoptosis and suppresses migration in MCF‑7 human breast cancer cells via the p38 MAPK, NF‑κB and Nrf2 signaling pathways". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 42, no. 4 (2018): 1847-1856. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2018.3751