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Cancer Cell International
Published in: Cancer Cell International 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Primary research

Curcumin inhibits leptin gene expression and secretion in breast cancer cells by estrogen receptors

Authors: Kazem Nejati-Koshki, Abolfazl Akbarzadeh, Mohammad Pourhassan-Moghaddam

Published in: Cancer Cell International | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

Recent studies suggested that leptin as a mitogenic factor might play an important role in the process of initiation and progression of human cancer. Therefore, it could be considered as a target for breast cancer therapy. A previous study has showed that expression of leptin gene could be modulated by activation of estrogen receptors. Curcumin is a diferuloylmethane that has been shown to interfere with multiple cell signaling pathways and extensive research over the last 50 years has indicated this polyphenol can both prevent and treat cancer. Based on the fact that targeting of leptin could be considered as a novel strategy for breast cancer therapy, the aim of this study is the investigation of potentiality of curcumin for inhibition of leptin gene expression and secretion, and also, its link with expression of estrogen receptors.

Methods

Cytotoxic effect of curcumin on T47D breast cancer cells was investigated by MTT assay test after 24 and 48 treatments. Thereafter, the cells treated with different concentrations of curcumin. The levels of leptin, estrogen receptor α and estrogen receptor β genes expression was measured in the treated and control cells by Reverse-transcription real-time PCR. Amount of secreted leptin in the culture medium was also determined by ELISA in both treated and untreated cells. Finally data were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA test.

Results

Analysis of MTT assay data showed that curcumin inhibits growth of T47D cells with dose dependent manner. There were also significant difference between control and treated cells in the levels of leptin, estrogen receptor α expression levels and the quantity of secreted leptin that both were decreased in the treated cells compared with control cells.

Conclusion

Based on the results, curcumin inhibits the expression and secretion of leptin and it could probably be used as a drug candidate for the breast cancer therapy through the leptin targeting in the future.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Curcumin inhibits leptin gene expression and secretion in breast cancer cells by estrogen receptors
Authors
Kazem Nejati-Koshki
Abolfazl Akbarzadeh
Mohammad Pourhassan-Moghaddam
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Cancer Cell International / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1475-2867
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2867-14-66

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