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The effects of the esterified Quercetin with omega3 and omega6 fatty acids on viability, nanomechanical properties, and BAX/BCL-2 gene expression in MCF-7 cells

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Abstract

Quercetin is one of the major flavonoids and it appears to have cytotoxic effects on various cancer cells through regulating the apoptosis pathway genes such as BAX and BCL2. Combination of Quercetin (Q) with other compounds can increase its effectiveness. In the present study, the effects of the Quercetin and its esterified derivatives on viability, nanomechanical properties of cells, and BAX/BCL-2 gene expression were investigated. Using the MTT and flow cytometry assays, the cytotoxic potential, apoptosis, and necrosis were investigated. The AFM assay was performed to find the nanomechanical properties of cells as the elastic modulus value and cellular adhesion forces. The BAX/BCL2 gene expression was investigated through the Real-Time PCR. The results showed that the esterification of Quercetin with linoleic acid (Q-LA) and α-linolenic acid (Q-ALA) increased the cytotoxic potential of Q. The elastic modulus value and cellular adhesion forces were increased using the esterified derivatives and the highest ratio of BAX/BCL2 gene expression was observed in Q-LA. Esterified Quercetin derivatives have a higher cytotoxic effect than the un-esterified form in a dose-dependent manner. Esterified derivatives caused the nanomechanical changes and pores formation on the cytoplasmic membrane. One of the internal apoptosis pathway regulation mechanisms of these compounds is increasing the BAX/BCL2 gene expression ratio.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Dept of Research, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Student Research Committee, School of Paramedical, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

    Leila Soufi

  2. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

    Alireza Farasat, Hossein Ahmadpour-Yazdi & Nematollah Gheibi

  3. Department of Chemistry, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran

    Leila Zolghadr

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  1. Leila Soufi
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  2. Alireza Farasat
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  4. Leila Zolghadr
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Contributions

NG was responsible for the design of the study. LS conducted laboratory tests, data collection, and drafting the article. NG, LS, and LZ were involved in the interpretation of results. NG, AF and HAY conducted the correction and final check out. All authors reviewed this draft, contributed, and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Nematollah Gheibi.

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The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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Ethical approval for this study was granted by the Research Ethics Committee at Qazvin University of Medical Sciences (Number IR.QUMS.REC.1397.312).

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Soufi, L., Farasat, A., Ahmadpour-Yazdi, H. et al. The effects of the esterified Quercetin with omega3 and omega6 fatty acids on viability, nanomechanical properties, and BAX/BCL-2 gene expression in MCF-7 cells. Mol Biol Rep 48, 5161–5169 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-021-06516-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-021-06516-5

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