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Mechanism of metformin action in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells involves oxidative stress generation, DNA damage, and transforming growth factor β1 induction

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Tumor Biology

Abstract

The participation of oxidative stress in the mechanism of metformin action in breast cancer remains unclear. We investigated the effects of clinical (6 and 30 μM) and experimental concentrations of metformin (1000 and 5000 μM) in MCF-7 and in MDA-MB-231 cells, verifying cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, DNA damage, and intracellular pathways related to cell growth and survival after 24 h of drug exposure. Clinical concentrations of metformin decreased metabolic activity of MCF-7 cells in the MTT assay, which showed increased oxidative stress and DNA damage, although cell death and impairment in the proliferative capacity were observed only at higher concentrations. The reduction in metabolic activity and proliferation in MDA-MB-231 cells was present only at experimental concentrations after 24 h of drug exposition. Oxidative stress and DNA damage were induced in this cell line at experimental concentrations. The drug decreased cytoplasmic extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and AKT and increased nuclear p53 and cytoplasmic transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in both cell lines. These findings suggest that metformin reduces cell survival by increasing reactive oxygen species, which induce DNA damage and apoptosis. A relationship between the increase in TGF-β1 and p53 levels and the decrease in ERK1/2 and AKT was also observed. These findings suggest the mechanism of action of metformin in both breast cancer cell lineages, whereas cell line specific undergoes redox changes in the cells in which proliferation and survival signaling are modified. Taken together, these results highlight the potential clinical utility of metformin as an adjuvant during the treatment of luminal and triple-negative breast cancer.

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Abbreviations

ERK1/2:

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2

AKT:

Protein kinase B

TGF-β1:

Transforming growth factor β1

AMPK:

Adenosine-5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase

mTOR:

Mammalian target of rapamycin

HER-2:

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2

TNBC:

Triple-negative breast cancer

MTT:

2-(3,5-Diphenyltetrazol-2-ium-2-yl)-4,5-dimethyl-1,3-thiazole bromide

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

EB:

Ethidium bromide

AO:

Acridine orange

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

8-Oh-dG:

8-Hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

OS:

Oxidative stress

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to J.A. Vargas and P.S.R. Dionízio-Filho, from the Department of General Pathology of the State University of Londrina, for their excellent technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, State University of Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR445, Km 380 Campus Universitário, Londrina, CEP 86051-990, Paraná, Brazil

    Poliana Camila Marinello, Amanda Fouto Neves, Kaliana Larissa Machado, Sara Santos Bernardes, Rodrigo Cabral Luiz & Alessandra Lourenço Cecchini

  2. Laboratory of Pathophysiology and Muscle Adaptation, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil

    Thamara Nishida Xavier da Silva & Flávia Alessandra Guarnier

  3. Laboratory of Pathophysiology and Free Radicals, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil

    Carolina Panis, Fernando Henrique Borges & Rubens Cecchini

  4. Brazilian National Cancer Institute, INCA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Júlio Cesar Madureira de-Freitas-Junior & José Andrés Morgado-Díaz

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  1. Poliana Camila Marinello
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  2. Thamara Nishida Xavier da Silva
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  3. Carolina Panis
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Correspondence to Alessandra Lourenço Cecchini.

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Supplementary Figure 1

Metformin increases nuclear p53 levels and cytoplasmic TGF-β1 levels and reduces cytoplasmic ERK1/2 and AKT in human breast cancer cells. Immunocytochemistry analysis of MCF-7 cells (a) and MDA-MB-231 cells (b) exposed to different metformin concentrations (6, 30, 1000, and 5000 μM) for 24 h. Illustrative panel showing a picture selected for each experimental condition. For the metformin 5000 μM, where the effects were more pronounced, a picture focusing on a single cell was selected (GIF 340 kb).

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Marinello, P.C., da Silva, T.N.X., Panis, C. et al. Mechanism of metformin action in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells involves oxidative stress generation, DNA damage, and transforming growth factor β1 induction. Tumor Biol. 37, 5337–5346 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-015-4395-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-015-4395-x

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