Effects of estrogen on apoptotic pathways in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7.

作者：Thomas T. Y. Wang, James Ming Phang · 发表于：PubMed · 年份：1995 · 被引用次数：275 · 研究领域：Cell death mechanisms and regulation、Bioactive Compounds and Antitumor Agents、Retinoids in leukemia and cellular processes

We utilized a reverse transcription-PCR method to examine the effect of estrogen on the expression of mRNA for Bcl-2 and Bax, two modulatory proteins in the apoptotic pathway, in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. We found that the bcl-2 mRNA levels in the cells exposed to 17 beta-estradiol were higher than those of control cells. Although the relative bax mRNA levels remained unchanged, the changes in bcl-2 mRNA level occurred in a time- and concentration-dependent fashion. In addition, pretreatment with 17 beta-estradiol protected MCF-7 cells from apoptosis. Our study provides evidence that responses of breast epithelial cells toward a steroid sex hormone involve regulation of the apoptotic pathway.