Dietary phenethyl isothiocyanate alters gene expression in human breast cancer cells

Abstract

Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a component in cruciferous vegetables, can block chemical carcinogenesis in animal models. Our objective was to determine the effect of treatment with PEITC on gene expression changes in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in order to evaluate potential mechanisms involved in its chemopreventive effects. MCF-7 cells were treated for 48 hours with either PEITC (3 μM) or the vehicle. Total RNA was extracted from cell membrane preparations, and labeled cDNA's representing the mRNA pool were reverse-transcribed directly from total RNA isolated for use in the microarray hybridizations. Two specific human GE Array Kits (Superarray Inc.) that both contain 23 marker genes, related to signal transduction pathways or cancer/tumor suppression, plus 2 housekeeping genes (β-actin and GAPDH), were utilized. Arrays from treated and control cells (n = 4 per group) were evaluated using a Student's t-test. Gene expression was significantly induced for tumor protein p53 (p53), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1C (p57 Kip2), breast cancer Type 2 early onset (BRCA2), cAMP responsive element binding protein 2 (ATF-2), interleukin 2 (IL-2), heat shock 27 KD protein (hsp27), and CYP19 (aromatase). Induction of p57 Kip2, p53, BRCA2, IL-2, and ATF-2 would be expected to decrease cellular proliferation and increase tumor suppression and/or apoptosis. PEITC treatment produced significant alterations in some genes involved in tumor suppression and cellular proliferation/apoptosis that may be important in explaining the chemopreventive effects of PEITC.

Figure 1

Chemical structure of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC).

Figure 2

Significantly altered genes by PEITC from the current study are presented in yellow boxes, and the effects of PEITC that have already been reported in previous studies are presented in blue boxes. All genes (ATF-2, p53, Hsp27, p57, BRCA2, IL-2) were upregulated. ATF-2, p53, Hsp27 are transcription factors which are all located downstream of MAPK signaling pathway (http://david.abcc.ncifcrf.gov/). Induction of ATF-2, p53 and Hsp27 in response to various stresses correlates with increased resistance to subsequent cellular damage [27]. Transcriptional activation of the p53 target genes plays a critical role in the cellular response to DNA damage, cellular stress and other signals regulating the cell cycle and apoptosis [28, 29]. IL-2 induces G2 cell cycle arrest via Akt pathway [30]. BRCA2 is essential for the maintenance of genetic stability through a function in DNA repair [31].