Morusin induces apoptosis by regulating expression of Bax and Survivin in human breast cancer cells

Sukmin Kang, Eun Ok Kim, Sung Hoon Kim, Jun Hee Lee, Kwang Seok Ahn, Miyong Yun, Seok Geun Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Morusin which has been isolated from the root bark of Morus alba L. (Moraceae) has previously demonstrated anticancer activity in various types of cancer cells such as hepatocellular carcinoma, glioma and prostate cancer. However, the effect of morusin on breast cancer cells remains unclear. In the present study, the potential of morusin as an anti-cancer agent in breast cancer was investigated. The results of the present study revealed that the treatment of morusin induced cell death in various human breast cancer cell lines, but exhibited little effect on normal human breast epithelial cells. In Annexin V-propidium iodide double staining assays, morusin significantly increased apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in human breast cancer cells. The apoptosis marker proteins cleaved caspase 3 and 9 were consistently upregulated following treatment of cells with morusin in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, morusin was demonstrated to modulate the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Survivin and pro-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma 2-asso-ciated-x protein (Bax) in human breast cancer cells. These results indicate that morusin induces apoptosis by suppressing Survivin and inducing Bax proteins, suggesting that morusin is a potentially effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of patients with breast cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4558-4562
Number of pages5
JournalOncology Letters
Volume13
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, Spandidos Publications. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Apoptosis
  • Apoptosis regulator Bax
  • Breast cancer
  • Morusin
  • Survivin

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