• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.274-279
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• 2012

Thymoquinone (TQ), a drug extracted from the black seeds of Nigella sativa, has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-neoplastic effects in numerous cancer cells. The effects of TQ on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production in MDA-MB-231, however, remain poorly understood. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining were performed to study the expression levels of inflammation regulatory proteins in MDA-MB-231. $PGE_2$ assay was conducted to explore the TQ-induced production of $PGE_2$. In this study, we investigated the effects of TQ on COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production in MDA-MB-231. TQ significantly induced COX-2 expression and increased $PGE_2$ production in a dose-dependent manner, as determined by a Western blot analysis and $PGE_2$ assay. Furthermore, the activation of Akt and p38 kinase, respectively, was up-regulated in TQ treated cells. Inhibition of p38 kinase with SB203580 and PI3kinase (PI3K) with LY294002 abolished TQ-caused COX-2 expression and decreased $PGE_2$ production. These results collectively demonstrate that TQ effectively modulates COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production via PI3K and p38 kinase pathways in the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.529-541
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• 2022

Objectives: Acanthopanax senticosus is a tree used in traditional medicine for various diseases. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effects of a water extract of Acanthopanax senticocus fruit (ASF) on 2 human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). Methods: The MTT assay was used to assess cell proliferation. The expression of apoptosis-related genes was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. Results: ASF treatment caused a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth in both estrogen-independent MDA-MB-231 and estrogen-dependent MCF-7 breast cancer cells. ASF decreased mRNA expression of the apoptotic suppressor gene Bcl-xL, and increased mRNA expression of proapoptotic genes. ASF increased the mRNA expression of p21 and RIP-1 in both cell types. ASF decreased the mRNA expression of survivin in the MCF-7 cell line. Conclusions: ASF exhibits anti-cancer activity involving apoptotic cell death.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.231-237
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• 2014

This research showed that delphinidin, an anthocyanin present in blueberry, induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells as well as mediated anti-cancer effects in vivo. As a result, growth of cancer cells as assessed by MTT assay decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. Chromatin condensation by DAPI staining significantly increased in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating apoptosis. The level of p53-protein increased while those of anti-apoptotic molecules (Bcl-2, p-$GSK3{\beta}$) decreased in the western blot. Tumor size decreased in cells treated with 10 mg/kg of delphinidin compared with the control group in vivo. Cell apoptosis assessed by TUNEL assay significantly increased, and tumor inhibitory effect was confirmed. Therefore, delphinidin can be developed for cancer preventive medicine due to its growth inhibitory effects and induction of apoptosis in human breast cancer cells.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.261-263
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• 2014

Chronic inflammation is involved in cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn's disease. Inerleukin-6 (IL-6) plays major roles in inflammation. Chungkookjang, fermented soybean contains diverse peptides produced by cleavage of soybean proteins. The peptides can be bioactive compounds. Peptide (Gly-Val-Tyr-Tyr-Met-Tyr was purified from Chungkookjang, and modified to be 6mer H, Glu-Val-Tyr-Tyr-Met-Tyr (EVYYMY). Peptide H's activity to suppress IL-6 expression in a human breast cancer cell, MDA-MB-231 was determined. IL-6 Expression was reduced in the cell treated with peptide H 25 times less than controls which were not treated with peptide H. Proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells was inhibited by peptide H, which is concentration-dependent. Blocking of IL-6 signals is known to be effective in reducing inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and cancers. Since peptide H can reduce inflammatory IL-6 expression, application of this study will contribute to drug development for diseases which are caused by excessive IL-6.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3071-3075
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• 2016

Morin, a flavonoid found in figs and other Moraceae species, displays a variety of biological actions, exerting anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects. Here, we investigated the anti-cancer activity of morin focusing on anti-adhesive influence. We performed experiments with MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Morin inhibited TNF-induced cancer cell adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) without showing any toxicity. It further inhibited the expression of VCAM-1 on MDA-MB-231 cells as well as HUVECs. Morin also decreased the expression of N-cadherin on MDA-MB-231 cells. In addition, there was apparent anti-metastatic activity in vivo. In conclusion, this study suggested that morin inhibits cancer cell adhesion to HUVECs by reducing VCAM-1, and EMT by targeting N-cadherin, and that it features anti-metastatic activity in vivo. Further investigation of possible anti-metastatic activity of morin against human breast cancer cells is warranted.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2013

Dietary inorganic sulfur is the minor component in our diet, but some studies suggested that inorganic sulfur is maybe effective to treat cancer related illness. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effects of inorganic sulfur on cell proliferation and gene expression in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured the absence or presence of various concentrations (12.5, 25, or 50 ${\mu}mol/L$) of inorganic sulfur. Inorganic sulfur significantly decreased proliferation after 72 h of incubation (P < 0.05). The protein expression of $ErbB_2$ and its active form, $pErbB_2$, were significantly reduced at inorganic sulfur concentrations of 50 ${\mu}mol/L$ and greater than 25 ${\mu}mol/L$, respectively (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of $ErbB_2$ was significantly reduced at an inorganic sulfur concentration of 50 ${\mu}mol/L$ (P < 0.05). The protein expression of $ErbB_3$ and its active form, $pErbB_3$, and the mRNA expression of $pErbB_3$ were significantly reduced at inorganic sulfur concentrations greater than 25 ${\mu}mol/L$ (P < 0.05). The protein and mRNA expression of Akt were significantly reduced at an inorganic sulfur concentration of 50 ${\mu}mol/L$ (P < 0.05), but pAkt was not affected by inorganic sulfur treatment. The protein and mRNA expression of Bax were significantly increased with the addition of inorganic sulfur concentration of 50 ${\mu}mol/L$ (P < 0.05). In conclusion, cell proliferation was suppressed by inorganic sulfur treatment through the ErbB-Akt pathway in MDA-MB-231 cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.914-920
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• 2014

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) possesses a higher rate of distant recurrence and a poorer prognosis than other breast cancer subtypes. Interestingly, most of the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) client proteins are oncoproteins, and some are closely related to unfavorable factors of TNBC patients. 17-Demethoxy-reblastatin (17-DR), a novel non-benzoquinone-type geldanamycin analog, exhibited potent Hsp90 ATPase inhibition activity. In this study, the anticancer effects of 17-DR on TNBC MDA-MB-231 cells were investigated. These results showed that 17-DR inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and suppressed cell invasion and migration in the MDA-MB-231 cells. Down-regulation of the key Hsp90-dependent tumor-driving molecules, such as RIP1 and MMP-9, by 17-DR may be related to these effects. Taken together, our results suggest that 17-DR has potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of TNBC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10397-10400
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• 2015

Stigmalactam, an aristolactam-type alkaloid extracted from Orophea enterocarpa, exerts cytotoxicity against several human and murine cancer cell lines, but the molecular mechanisms remain elusive. The aims of this study were to identify the mode and mechanisms of human cancer cell death induced by stigmalactam employing human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and human invasive breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells as models, compared to normal murine fibroblasts. It was found that stigmalactam was toxic to HepG2 and MDA-MB-231 cells with $IC_{50}$ levels of $23.0{\pm}2.67{\mu}M$ and $33.2{\pm}4.54{\mu}M$, respectively, using MTT assays. At the same time the $IC_{50}$ level towards murine normal fibroblast NIH3T3 cells was $24.4{\pm}6.75{\mu}M$. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was reduced in stigmalactam-treated cells dose dependently after 4 h of incubation, indicating antioxidant activity, measured by using 2',7',-dichlorohydrofluorescein diacetate and flow cytometry. Caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities were increased in a dose response manner, while stigmalactam decreased the mitochondrial transmembrane potential dose-dependently in HepG2 cells, using 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide and flow cytometry, indicating mitochondrial pathway-mediated apoptosis. In conclusion, stigmalactam from O. enterocarpa was toxic to both HepG2 and MDA-MB-231 cells and induced human cancer HepG2 cells to undergo apoptosis via the intrinsic (mitochondrial) pathway.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8135-8140
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• 2016

Background: Cell cycle regulatory proteins are suitable targets for cancer therapeutic development since genetic alterations in many cancers also affect the functions of these molecules. Strobilanthes crispus (S. crispus) is traditionally known for its potential benefits in treating various ailments. We recently reported that an active sub-fraction of S. crispus leaves (SCS) caused caspase-dependent apoptosis of human breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Materials and Methods: Considering the ability of SCS to also promote the activity of the antiestrogen, tamoxifen, we further examined the effect of SCS in modulating cell cycle progression and related proteins in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells alone and in combination with tamoxifen. Expression of cell cycle-related transcripts was analysed based on a previous microarray dataset. Results: SCS significantly caused G1 arrest of both types of cells, similar to tamoxifen and this was associated with modulation of cyclin D1, p21 and p53. In combination with tamoxifen, the anticancer effects involved downregulation of $ER{\alpha}$ protein in MCF-7 cells but appeared independent of an ER-mediated mechanism in MDA-MB-231 cells. Microarray data analysis confirmed the clinical relevance of the proteins studied. Conclusions: The current data suggest that SCS growth inhibitory effects are similar to that of the antiestrogen, tamoxifen, further supporting the previously demonstrated cytotoxic and apoptotic actions of both agents.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.214-219
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• 2019

The role of tumor-proximal factors in tumor plasticity during chemoresistance and metastasis following chemotherapy is well studied. However, the role of endothelial cell (EC) derived paracrine factors in tumor plasticity, their effect on chemotherapeutic outcome, and the mechanism by which these paracrine factors modulate the tumor microenvironment are not well understood. In this study, we report a novel mechanism by which endothelial miR-125a and let-7e-mediated regulation of interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling can manipulate vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. We found that endothelial IL-6 levels were significantly higher in response to cisplatin treatment, whereas levels of IL-6 upon cisplatin exposure remained unchanged in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. We additionally found an inverse correlation between IL-6 and miR-125a/let-7e expression levels in cisplatin treated ECs. Interestingly, IL-6, IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) genes in the IL-6 pathway are closely regulated by miR-125a and let-7e, which directly target its 3' untranslated region. Functional analyses revealed that endothelial miR-125a and let-7e inhibit IL-6-induced adhesion of monocytes to ECs. Furthermore, conditioned medium from cisplatin treated ECs induced a significantly higher formation of VM in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells as compared to that from intact ECs; this effect of cisplatin treatment was abrogated by concurrent overexpression of miR-125a and let-7e. Overall, this study reveals a novel EC-tumor cell crosstalk mediated by the endothelial miR-125a/let-7e-IL-6 signaling axis, which might improve chemosensitivity and provide potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of cancer.