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.

CONCLUSION: 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).