Effects of genistein on the gene expression related to inflammation in breast cancer cell lines

Abstract

[eng] Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in women of developed countries. Genistein (GEN) is a phytoestrogen produced naturally in the soybean plant. This natural compound has attracted scientific interest for its possible beneficial effects in the prevention of cancer, especially breast cancer. GEN presents a structural similarity to 17β-estradiol (E2) and exerts its function in cells through its binding to estrogen receptors (ER). ERα is related to cell proliferation, whereas ERβ is linked to cytostatic processes and cell differentiation. It has been shown that GEN, unlike E2, has a greater affinity for ERβ, so the response of breast cancer cells to treatment with GEN is influenced by the ratio ERα/ERβ. In previous studies, it has been shown that GEN negatively regulates the effects of signal transduction induced by cytokines in the cells of the immune system, we reason that it may also play a role as an anti-inflammatory agent. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of treatment with physiological concentrations of GEN on the expression of pro-inflammatory genes and Sirtuin1 (Sirt1), in breast cancer cell lines with different ERα/ERβ ratio. The lower ERα/ERβ ratio T47D cell line showed how GEN had an anti-inflammatory effect. On the other hand, genistein-treated MCF-7 cell line, with the highest ERα/ERβ ratio, reported pro-inflammatory effects. MDA-MB-231 cell line had not significant changes with control cells. On the whole, our results show different genistein effects depending on ERα/ERβ ratio for proinflammatory genes and Sirt1 in breast cancer cell lines. Effects of GEN on pro-inflammatory genes could be due to a higher ERα presence.