Effects of Estrogen Octylphenol on the Expression of Apoptosis Regulator Gene bcl-2 in Human Breast Cancer Cell Line MCF-7 / 环境与健康杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the effects of octylphenol, an environmental contaminant with estrogenic activity, on the expression of apoptosis regulator gene bcl-2 mRNA in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and to compare its effects with 17?-estradiol (E 2). Methods MCF-7 cells were cultured in vitro and exposed to various concentrations of octylphenol and E 2 from 12 h to 120 h respectively. Total RNA was abstracted and the expression of bcl-2 mRNA was measured using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) approach. Results The expression of bcl-2 mRNA in MCF-7 cells increased significantly after exposure to octylphenol and E 2 24 h and the effects continued to 120 h. The stimulation effect on the expression of bcl-2 mRNA was induced by octylphenol with a wide range of concentrations, and the strongest effect was found at the concentration of 10-6 mol/L of octylphenol. Conclusion The results suggested that octylphenol had similar estrogenic activities as E 2 on regulating the expression of bcl-2 mRNA in MCF-7 cells, but the effect was weaker than that of E 2.