Effects of Fucoidan on cell viability of breast cancer and its mechanism

HAO Jian; WU Xiong-zhi

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-266X.2015.30.002

Abstract：Objective To observe the effects of Fucoidan on cell viability of breast cancer cell lines MCF -7 and MDA-MB-231 and to investigate its possible mechanism .Methods The breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 in the logarithmic phase ( observation group A and B ) were respectively treated with 2 mL Fucoidan ( 100 ug/mL and 200 ug/mL) .The control group A and B were treated with the same volume of DMEM culture medium .The cell proliferation inhi-bition rate was detected by Trypan blue staining , cell cycle and apoptosis cells were analyzed by flow cytometry , and the expression of Caspase-8, phosphorylation Erk ( p-Erk) and total Erk was detected by Western blotting .Results With the increased Fucoidan concentration and the prolonged time , the cell proliferation inhibition rates of the observation groups A and B were increased (all P<0.05), the cell proportion in the G0/G1 phase of the observation groups A and group B was increased, the cell proportion in the S phase and G2 was reduced, the apoptosis rate was increased, and the changes in the high concentration Fucoidan group were more significant (all P<0.05).The expression of Caspase-8 was increased and the Erk expression was decreased in the observation groups A and B , and the changes in the high concentration Fucoidan group were more significant (all P<0.05).Conclusion Fucoidan could inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, arrest the breast cells in G0/G1 phase, and also promote the apoptosis.This mechanism may be achieved by activating the expression of Caspase-8 and down-regulating the p-Erk expression .