Conjugated linoleic acid induces apoptosis through estrogen receptor alpha in human breast tissue

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a naturally occurring fatty acid found in ruminant products such as milk and beef, has been shown to possess anti-cancer activities in <it>in vivo </it>animal models and <it>in vitro...

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Main Authors: Liu Suling, Huang Yi-Wen, Wang Li-Shu, Yan Pearlly, Lin Young C
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2008-07-01
Series:BMC Cancer
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/8/208
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author Liu Suling
Huang Yi-Wen
Wang Li-Shu
Yan Pearlly
Lin Young C
author_facet Liu Suling
Huang Yi-Wen
Wang Li-Shu
Yan Pearlly
Lin Young C
author_sort Liu Suling
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a naturally occurring fatty acid found in ruminant products such as milk and beef, has been shown to possess anti-cancer activities in <it>in vivo </it>animal models and <it>in vitro </it>cell culture systems. In human breast cancer, the overall duration of estrogen exposure is the most important risk factor for developing estrogen-responsive breast cancer. Accordingly, it has been suggested that estrogen exposure reduces apoptosis through the up-regulation of the anti-apoptosis protein, Bcl-2. Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic protein, regulates apoptosis and plays a crucial role in the development and growth regulation of normal and cancerous cells. Our research interest is to examine the effects of CLA on the induction of apoptosis in human breast tissues.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The localization of Bcl-2 in both normal and cancerous human breast tissues was determined by immunohistochemical staining and the Bcl-2 protein expression was tested by western blot analysis. Co-culture of epithelial cells and stromal cells was carried out in the presence or absence of CLA to evaluate apoptosis in the context of a cell-cell interaction.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results showed that both normal and cancerous breast tissues were positive for Bcl-2 staining, which was higher overall in mammary ducts but very low in the surrounding stromal compartment. Interestingly, by quantifying the western blot data, basal Bcl-2 protein levels were higher in normal breast epithelial cells than in cancerous epithelial cells. Furthermore, treatment with 17β-estradiol (E<sub>2</sub>) stimulated growth and up-regulated Bcl-2 expression in estrogen responsive breast epithelial cells; however, these carcinogenic effects were diminished by either CLA or 4-Hydroxytamoxifen (Tam) and were suppressed further by the combination of CLA and Tam. In both one cell type cultured and co-culture systems, CLA induced cell apoptosis in ERα transfected MDA-MB-231 cells but not in the wild type MDA-MB-231 cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data, therefore, demonstrate that ERα plays important roles in CLA induced apoptosis in human breast tissues.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-ca24e6b0ecbf4a3ca12ac0e76088960f2022-12-22T03:25:50ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072008-07-018120810.1186/1471-2407-8-208Conjugated linoleic acid induces apoptosis through estrogen receptor alpha in human breast tissueLiu SulingHuang Yi-WenWang Li-ShuYan PearllyLin Young C<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a naturally occurring fatty acid found in ruminant products such as milk and beef, has been shown to possess anti-cancer activities in <it>in vivo </it>animal models and <it>in vitro </it>cell culture systems. In human breast cancer, the overall duration of estrogen exposure is the most important risk factor for developing estrogen-responsive breast cancer. Accordingly, it has been suggested that estrogen exposure reduces apoptosis through the up-regulation of the anti-apoptosis protein, Bcl-2. Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic protein, regulates apoptosis and plays a crucial role in the development and growth regulation of normal and cancerous cells. Our research interest is to examine the effects of CLA on the induction of apoptosis in human breast tissues.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The localization of Bcl-2 in both normal and cancerous human breast tissues was determined by immunohistochemical staining and the Bcl-2 protein expression was tested by western blot analysis. Co-culture of epithelial cells and stromal cells was carried out in the presence or absence of CLA to evaluate apoptosis in the context of a cell-cell interaction.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results showed that both normal and cancerous breast tissues were positive for Bcl-2 staining, which was higher overall in mammary ducts but very low in the surrounding stromal compartment. Interestingly, by quantifying the western blot data, basal Bcl-2 protein levels were higher in normal breast epithelial cells than in cancerous epithelial cells. Furthermore, treatment with 17β-estradiol (E<sub>2</sub>) stimulated growth and up-regulated Bcl-2 expression in estrogen responsive breast epithelial cells; however, these carcinogenic effects were diminished by either CLA or 4-Hydroxytamoxifen (Tam) and were suppressed further by the combination of CLA and Tam. In both one cell type cultured and co-culture systems, CLA induced cell apoptosis in ERα transfected MDA-MB-231 cells but not in the wild type MDA-MB-231 cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data, therefore, demonstrate that ERα plays important roles in CLA induced apoptosis in human breast tissues.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/8/208
spellingShingle Liu Suling
Huang Yi-Wen
Wang Li-Shu
Yan Pearlly
Lin Young C
Conjugated linoleic acid induces apoptosis through estrogen receptor alpha in human breast tissue
BMC Cancer
title Conjugated linoleic acid induces apoptosis through estrogen receptor alpha in human breast tissue
title_full Conjugated linoleic acid induces apoptosis through estrogen receptor alpha in human breast tissue
title_fullStr Conjugated linoleic acid induces apoptosis through estrogen receptor alpha in human breast tissue
title_full_unstemmed Conjugated linoleic acid induces apoptosis through estrogen receptor alpha in human breast tissue
title_short Conjugated linoleic acid induces apoptosis through estrogen receptor alpha in human breast tissue
title_sort conjugated linoleic acid induces apoptosis through estrogen receptor alpha in human breast tissue
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/8/208
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AT wanglishu conjugatedlinoleicacidinducesapoptosisthroughestrogenreceptoralphainhumanbreasttissue
AT yanpearlly conjugatedlinoleicacidinducesapoptosisthroughestrogenreceptoralphainhumanbreasttissue
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