Effects of cholesterol-inhibitor lovastatin on the activity of MAPK in MCF-7 breast cancer cells / 第三军医大学学报

Objective To investigate the effects of lovastatin on MAPK activity in MCF 7 breast cancer cells. Methods After MCF 7 cells were treated with 4, 8 and 16 ?mol/L lovastatin for 48～72 h, the expressions of ERK1 and p38 MAPK proteins were detected by Western blotting. Their phosphorylation levels were observed by kinase activity assay. Results MCF 7 cells treated with different doses of lovastatin for 48～72 h had no significant effect on the protein level of ERK1, but the activities of ERK1 and the P38 MAPK proteins were down regulated at 72 h after treatment. Conclusion Lovastatin may down regulate the activity of MAPK in MCF 7 cells by means of inhibiting the mevalonate metabolism pathway and/or affecting phosphorylation levels.