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Published on: January 18, 2017
Cauliflower bioactive compound sulforaphane inhibits breast cancer development by suppressing NF-κB /MMP-9 signaling
Taoqi Zhou1, Minming Zhou2, Chaochao Tong2
1Department of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang315100, China. f.rahimi191@gmail.com.
Abstract:
In recent years, anti-cancer plant food development and research have received increasing attention, and cauliflower is one of the vegetables with anti-cancer effects. Sulforaphane (SFN) is one of the main anti-cancer components in cauliflower. In this study, the mechanism of action of SFN in anti-breast cancer was investigated using SFN, a bioactive compound extracted from cauliflower. For this purpose, SFN was extracted from cauliflower using rotary evaporation and silica gel chromatography, and the extracted SFN was used for in vitro and in vivo experiments. Breast cancer cells MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-231 xenograft tumor model mice were treated with SFN, pcDNA3.1-MMP-9, Si-RNA- MMP-9 and Si-RNA-NF-κB, respectively, and the corresponding saline treatment or blank plasmid treatment was used as control. The gene expression of NF-κB and MMP-9 in each group was detected by RT-PCR, and the protein phosphorylation level of MMP-9 was measured by Western bloting assay. WST 1 assay, MTT assay and flow cytometric analysis were used to detect the activity, proliferation and apoptosis levels of breast cancer cells. The tumor histopathology of the xenograft tumor model mice after SFN treatment was examined by HE staining. Results showed that Breast cancer cells treated with SFN showed reduced cell proliferation, decreased cell activity, increased apoptosis ratio, and inhibited gene expression and protein phosphorylation of MMP-9 as well as gene expression of NF-κB (P < 0.05). The same effect occurred with transfection of Si-RNA- MMP-9 and Si-RNA-NF-κB in breast cancer cells, while transfection of pcDNA3.1-MMP-9 plasmid significantly redeemed the inhibitory effect of SFN on breast cancer cells (P < 0.05). MDA-MB-231 xenograft tumor model mice treated with SFN showed significant improvement in the pathological condition of the tumor tissue. Then, SFN may inhibit breast cancer development by regulating the NF-κB /MMP-9 signaling pathway.
Insights
Sulforaphane (SFN) from cauliflower inhibits breast cancer by reducing cell proliferation and increasing apoptosis. It acts by regulating the NF-κB/MMP-9 signaling pathway, showing promise in preclinical models.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Cauliflower contains anti-cancer compounds, notably sulforaphane (SFN).
- Research into plant-based anti-cancer agents is growing.
- Understanding SFN's mechanism against breast cancer is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anti-breast cancer mechanism of sulforaphane (SFN).
- To explore SFN's effect on the NF-κB/MMP-9 signaling pathway in breast cancer cells and xenograft models.
Main Methods:
- SFN was extracted from cauliflower.
- In vitro studies used breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231) treated with SFN, Si-RNA-MMP-9, Si-RNA-NF-κB, or control plasmids.
- In vivo studies utilized a breast cancer xenograft mouse model treated with SFN.
- Gene expression (RT-PCR), protein phosphorylation (Western blotting), cell activity/proliferation/apoptosis (WST-1, MTT, flow cytometry), and tumor histopathology (HE staining) were assessed.
Main Results:
- SFN treatment reduced breast cancer cell proliferation and activity, and increased apoptosis.
- SFN inhibited gene expression of NF-κB and MMP-9, and MMP-9 protein phosphorylation.
- Knockdown of MMP-9 or NF-κB mimicked SFN's inhibitory effects.
- Overexpression of MMP-9 partially reversed SFN's anti-cancer effects.
- SFN treatment improved tumor pathology in xenograft mice.
Conclusions:
- SFN exhibits anti-breast cancer properties by inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis.
- SFN's mechanism involves the downregulation of the NF-κB/MMP-9 signaling pathway.
- SFN is a promising natural compound for breast cancer prevention and therapy.
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