Curcumin Inhibits MCF-7 Cells by Modulating the NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Overview

Journal Oncol Lett

Specialty Oncology

Date 2017 Nov 17

PMID 29142607

Citations 20

Authors

Jun-Li Liu

Yan-Yan Pan

Ou Chen

Yun Luan

Xia Xue

Jing-Jie Zhao

Ling Liu

Hong-Ying Jia

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The present study investigated the inhibitory effect of curcumin on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and investigated the potential underlying molecular mechanisms. MCF-7 cells were cultured with curcumin at different concentrations and time points. The effects of curcumin treatment on breast cancer cell proliferation were studied using a MTT assay. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were used to assess the mRNA and protein expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X (Bax), nuclear factor-κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and inhibitor of NF-κB-α (IκBα). The proliferation of MCF-7 cells in the group treated with curcumin was markedly decreased compared with the control, with the greatest inhibitory effect at a concentration of 20 µM. The expression of Bax mRNA was increased and Bcl-2 mRNA expression was decreased compared with the control. Additionally, protein expression of NF-κB and IκB was increased. The data indicate that curcumin is able to inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation, possibly by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway.

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