The anti-breast cancer property of physcion via oxidative stress-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis and immune response

Abstract

Context

Physcion (Phy) exerts several pharmacological effects including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor properties.

Objective

This study investigates the cytotoxicity and its underlying mechanisms of Phy on breast cancer.

Materials and methods

Human breast cancer cell MCF-7 was treated with 5–400 µM Phy for 24 h, MCF-7-xenografted BALB/c nude mice and immunosuppressive mice model induced by cyclophosphamide were intraperitoneally injected with 0.1 mL/mouse normal saline (control group) and 30 mg/kg Phy every other day for 14 or 28 days, and pathological examination, ELISA and western blot were employed to investigate the Phy anti-breast cancer property in vitro and in vivo.

Results

In MCF-7 cells, Phy 24 h treatment significantly reduced the cell viability at dose of 50–400 µM and 24 h, with an IC₅₀ of 203.1 µM, and 200 µM Phy induced 56.9, 46.9, 36.9, and 46.9% increment on LDH and caspase-3, −8 and −9. In MCF-7-xenograft tumour nude mice and immunosuppressive mice, 30 mg/kg Phy treatment inhibited tumour growth from the 8th day, and reduced Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL >50%, HO-1 and SOD-1 > 70% in tumour tissues of immunosuppressive mice. In addition, Phy reduced nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 > 30% and its downstream proteins, and enhanced the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-kappa B > 110% and inhibitor of NF-кB α > 80% in the tumour tissues of BALB/c mice.

Discussion and conclusions

This research demonstrated that Phy has an anti-breast cancer property via the modulation of oxidative stress-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis and immune response, which provides a scientific basis for further research on its clinical applications.

Keywords:

• Breast cancer
• nuclear factor-kappa B
• nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2
• cytotoxicity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Special Projects of Cooperation between Jilin University and Jilin Province in China [SXGJSF2017-1].