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Role of Glutathione System Redox Potential in Apoptosis Dysregulation in MCF-7 Breast Adenocarcinoma

E V Shakhristova1, E A Stepovaya2, N V Ryazantseva3

  • 1Siberian State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Tomsk, Russia. shaxristova@yandex.ru.

Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine
|January 12, 2016
PubMed

Insights

N-ethylmaleimide disrupts the glutathione system in breast cancer cells, lowering their redox potential and inducing programmed cell death. This finding suggests potential for targeted cancer therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • The glutathione system plays a crucial role in cellular redox balance and cancer progression.
  • Targeting cellular redox pathways is a promising strategy for cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of N-ethylmaleimide on the glutathione system and apoptosis in breast cancer cells.
  • To evaluate the potential of N-ethylmaleimide as a therapeutic agent for breast cancer.

Main Methods:

  • MCF-7 breast cancer cells and HBL-100 epithelial cells were treated with N-ethylmaleimide.
  • Changes in glutathione system redox potential, enzyme activities (glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase), and apoptosis were measured.

Main Results:

  • N-ethylmaleimide induced an imbalance in the glutathione system.
  • A reduction in tumor cell redox potential was observed.
  • N-ethylmaleimide treatment led to increased programmed cell death (apoptosis) in cancer cells.

Conclusions:

  • N-ethylmaleimide effectively disrupts the glutathione system and promotes apoptosis in breast cancer cells.
  • These findings support the potential utility of N-ethylmaleimide in targeted cancer therapy for breast tumors.
Keywords:
apoptosisbreast adenocarcinomaoxidative stressredox regulationtumor Progress

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