Curcumin Affects Parkinson Protein 7 (Park7; Dj-1) Expression And Regulates Proliferation And Apoptosis Of Breast Cancer Cells By Up-Regulating Mir-203

PTEN can inhibit PI3 K/AKT signaling pathway and DJ- 1 negatively regualtes PTEN. Curcumin (Cur) regulates PTEN-PI3 K/AKT pathway. Bioinformatics analysis showed a targeting relationship between miR-203 and DJ-1, but it is unclear whether Cur regulates DJ-1-PTEN/PI3 K/AKT pathway through miR-203. We assessed Cur's role in breast cancer cells. MCF-10A and MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured and expression of miR-203, DJ-1 and PTEN mRNA was measured by qRTPCR. MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with 0, 10 mu M Cur followed by analysis cell proliferation by CCK-8 assay, cell apoptosis by flow cytometry, miR-203, DJ-1 and PTEN mRNA level by qRTPCR. MDA-MB-231 cells were divided into 3 groups: 0 mu M, 10 mu M Cur+ miR-NC treatment group, 10 mu M+miR-203 inhibitor group to measure cell apoptosis and proliferation. Compared with MCF10A cells, miR-203 and DJ-1 mRNA in MDA-MB-231 cells was significantly upregulated and PTEN mRNA expression was decreased. Cur treatment significantly decreased cell proliferation, promoted caspase-3 activity and cell apoptosis, as well as elevated miR-203 and PTEN mRNA level and decreased DJ-1 mRNA level. miR-203 inhibitor transfection can antagonize Cur's effect on upregulation of miR-203, increase DJ-1 expression, decrease PTEN expression, enhance PI3 K/AKT pathway activity, and antagonize Cur's anti-tumor effect. Curcumin increases miR-203 expression, down-regulates DJ-1 expression, affects PTEN-PI3 K/AKT pathway activity, and play an anti-tumor effect through inhibiting breast cancer cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis.