Curcumin Affects Parkinson Protein 7 (PARK7; DJ-1) Expression and Regulates Proliferation and Apoptosis of Breast Cancer Cells by Up-Regulating miR-203

PTEN can inhibit PI3 K/AKT signaling pathway and DJ- 1 negatively regualtes PTEN. Curcumin (Cur) regulates PTEN-PI3 K/AKT pathway. Bioinformatics analysis showed a targeting relationship between miR-203 and DJ-1, but it is unclear whether Cur regulates DJ-1-PTEN/PI3 K/AKT pathway through miR-203. We assessed Cur's role in breast cancer cells. MCF-10A and MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured and expression of miR-203, DJ-1 and PTEN mRNA was measured by qRTPCR. MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with 0, 10 mu M Cur followed by analysis cell proliferation by CCK-8 assay, cell apoptosis by flow cytometry, miR-203, DJ-1 and PTEN mRNA level by qRTPCR. MDA-MB-231 cells were divided into 3 groups: 0 mu M, 10 mu M Cur+ miR-NC treatment group, 10 mu M+miR-203 inhibitor group to measure cell apoptosis and proliferation. Compared with MCF10A cells, miR-203 and DJ-1 mRNA in MDA-MB-231 cells was significantly upregulated and PTEN mRNA expression was decreased. Cur treatment significantly decreased cell proliferation, promoted caspase-3 activity and cell apoptosis, as well as elevated miR-203 and PTEN mRNA level and decreased DJ-1 mRNA level. miR-203 inhibitor transfection can antagonize Cur's effect on upregulation of miR-203, increase DJ-1 expression, decrease PTEN expression, enhance PI3 K/AKT pathway activity, and antagonize Cur's anti-tumor effect. Curcumin increases miR-203 expression, down-regulates DJ-1 expression, affects PTEN-PI3 K/AKT pathway activity, and play an anti-tumor effect through inhibiting breast cancer cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis.

Automated summary

The study showed that curcumin can promote apoptosis and inhibit proliferation of breast cancer cells by affecting the relationship between miR-203, DJ-1, and PTEN.