Quercetin induces apoptosis and necroptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the quercetin (Que) effects on growth of MCF-7 human cancer breast cell line and its cellular death mechanism.

BACKGROUND

Quercetin has been found to be very efficacious against many different types of cancer cells. However, the study is not sufficiently powered to demonastrate anticancer mechanisms.

METHODS

MCF-7cells were treated by 50 µM/ ml of Que for 48 hours. MCF-7 cells were also pretreated with 10 Μm ZVAD (apoptosis inhibitor) or 3 mM Nec-1 (necroptosis inhibitor) for evaluation of cell death induced by apoptosis or necroptosis.

RESULTS

MTT and clonogenicity assays revealed that the Que induced a significant increase in cell viability and proliferation in presence of Nec-1 in comparison to the presence of ZVAD (p < 0.05). Que also increased apoptosis as revealed by DAPI staining and morphology evaluations. Following Que treatment Bcl-2 expression was significantly decreased while Bax expression was significantly increased. Que in presence of Nec-1 decreased expression of Bax gene, reduced apoptotic index, increased cell viability and proliferation of MCF-7 cells in comparison to absence of Nec-1. MCF-7 cells showed a significantly increased expression of RIPK1 and RIPK3 in response to Que plus ZVAD in comparison to absence of ZVAD.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results revealed that the high Que toxicity for breast cancer cells depends on multiple cell death pathways, which involve mainly necroptosis (Fig. 6, Ref. 21).