[Changes in telomerase activity decreases in MCF-7 cells during apoptosis induced by sodium butyrate]
Ling Xi1, Ming-Fu Wu, Jian-Hong Wu
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Objective:
To investigate telomerase activity of MCF-7 mammary cancer cells during apoptosis induced by sodium butyrate (SB) in vitro and its mechanism.
Methods:
The proliferative activity of MCF-7 cells was assessed by morphology and MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was confirmed by DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization. Telomerase activity was examined by TRAP-ELISA. The expression status of telomerase subunits was analyzed by RT-PCR.
Results:
A time- and dose-dependent inhibition was detected in MCF-7 cells treated with SB. At 72 hr after SB (2.5 mmol/L) treatment, MCF-7 cells were apoptotic with a rate of 84.3% by flow cytometric assay (AnnexinV/PI double staining). Apoptosis was also confirmed by DNA fragmentation. Telomerase activity and expression level of hTERT, the key subunit of telomerase, decreased at 24-hour time point after SB treatment. No significant changes were observed in the expression of hTR and hTP, the other two subunits of telomerase.
Conclusion:
Telomerase activity decreases in MCF-7 cells during apoptosis induced by sodium butyrate. The underlying mechanism might be related to the down regulation of hTERT transcription.
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