A comparison of the effect of curcumin treatment on apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy in a MCF-7 mammary adenocarcinoma and a MCF-12A healthy mammary epithelial cell line
Date
2009-03
Authors
Van den Heever, Martine
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
Breast cancer is currently the primary cause of cancer-related death in women
worldwide. Conventional treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy have many
deleterious and long lasting side-effects, some of which are permanent, such as
infertility. As certain tumour cells can also acquire resistance to chemotherapy, the
need for the development of a less severe, yet more effective, targeted anti-cancer
treatment exists. Curcumin, a plant polyphenol from Curcuma longa, has long been
thought to possess antitumour, antioxidant, anti-arthritic, anti-amyloid, anti-ischemic
and anti-inflammatory properties. Numerous studies conducted over the past sixty
years confirm this. We aimed at examining the effect of curcumin on cell viability and
the different modes of cell death, namely apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy, in the
MCF-12A (non-tumorigenic mammary epithelial) and MCF-7 (mammary
adenocarcinoma) cell lines.
Cells were incubated with different doses of curcumin to evaluate the dose response
through a MTT assay. Thereafter, cells were incubated with 200 μM curcumin for
48 hrs and stained with markers and DNA stains for apoptosis (Hoechst, Caspase-3,
PARP), necrosis (Propidium Iodide) and autophagy (LC3B and Beclin-1). Cells were
examined via fluorescence microscopy, Western Blot- and FACS analyses. MTT
results showed no significant decrease in viability in the MCF-12A cell line after
curcumin treatment. However, a significant decrease in viability was observed in
MCF-7 cells after treatment with 200 μM curcumin (p < 0.05). Treated MCF-7 cells
also show clear LC3B expression. FACS results show a significant difference in
Hoechst mean fluorescence intensity in MCF-7 cells after curcumin treatment (p <
0.05). This study provides evidence that MCF-7 cells respond to a 200 μM dose of curcumin treatment through metabolic change and induction of the autophagic
pathway. The model system used in this study provides groundwork for further cell
culture based studies regarding breast cancer and curcumin.
Description
Thesis (MSc (Physiological Sciences))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
Keywords
Dissertations -- Physiology (Human and animal), Theses -- Physiology (Human and animal)