Emodin induces cytotoxic effect in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cell through modulating the expression of apoptosis-related genes

Abstract

Context: The poor prognostic outcome of breast cancer is largely due to its resistance to cancer therapies. Development of therapeutic agents that can inhibit growth and induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells can help solve the problem. Emodin is an active anthraquinone that has been reported to have diverse biological effects. Objective: In this study, the anticancer effects of emodin on growth inhibition, apoptosis induction and the expression of apoptosis-related genes in MCF-7 cells were investigated. Materials and methods: Growth inhibition induced by emodin was investigated by the MTS assay and the colony formation assay; while emodin-induced apoptosis was determined by the COMET assay and DNA fragmentation detection. Emodin (35 mM)-induced alterations in the expression of apoptotic-related genes were detected by using real-time PCR. Results: Emodin had significant growth inhibitory effects on MCF-7 cells with IC 50 ¼ 7.22 mg/ml ($30 mM). It also exerted a concentration-dependant inhibitory effect on the colony-forming ability of MCF-7 cells with IC 50 ¼ 7.60 mg/ml ($30 mM). Hallmarks of apoptosis, such as singlestrand DNA breakage and DNA fragmentation, were observed in emodin-treated MCF-7 cells. The gene expression of Fas ligand (FASL) was up-regulated (p50.01) but those of MCL1, CCND1 and C-MYC were down-regulated (p50.05) in emodin-treated MCF-7 cells. Discussion and conclusion: This study indicated that emodin could induce growth inhibition and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells through the modulation of the expression of apoptosis-related genes. The growth inhibitory effects of emodin might involve both the intrinsic and the extrinsic apoptotic pathways and cell cycle arrest.

Effect of Emodin on Expression of VEGF-A and VEGFR_2 Genes in Human Breast Carcinoma MCF-7 Cell

“…Consistent with our results, Wing-Yan Li et al also showed that emodin induces cytotoxic effect in MCF-7 cells through modulating expression of apoptosis related genes (17).…”

“…However, the side effects and drug resistance related to chemotherapy have restricted its efficiency for the treatment of breast cancer. Thus, recent research on breast cancer management is followed by therapeutic agents that inhibit growth and induce apoptosis in cancer cells (17,18).…”

Emodin: A Review of its Pharmacology, Toxicity and Pharmacokinetics

“…Emodin could induce growth inhibition and apoptosis in MCF‐7 cells through the modulation of the expression of apoptosis‐related genes. The gene expression of FASL was up‐regulated, although the expression levels of MCL1, CCND1 and C‐MYC were down‐regulated (Li et al ., ).…”

Inhibitory effect of emodin on migration, invasion and metastasis of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro and in vivo

“…1A), an active monomer extracted from Rheum, Polygonum, Buckthorn and Senna, has been shown to be active against pancreatic (5,6), lung (7,8), breast (9,10), liver (11), prostate (12,13), ovarian (14), cervical (15), colon (16), gallbladder (17) and human tongue cancer SCC-4 cells (18,19). Moreover, it has been reported that emodin induces apoptosis of human breast cancer MCF-7 (20) and MDA-MB-453 cells (21). However, there are no reports on the effect of emodin on breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells.…”