Over expression of PTEN induces apoptosis and prevents cell proliferation in breast cancer cells

Jinfeng  Wu; Hong  Gao; Wanyu  Ge; Jie He

doi:10.18388/abp.2020_5371

Jinfeng Wu 1Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China; 2Intelligent Pathology Institute, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China; 3Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
Hong Gao Department of Head And Neck Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
Wanyu Ge 1Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China; 2Intelligent Pathology Institute, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China
Jie He 1Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China; 2Intelligent Pathology Institute, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China; 3Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9721-7844

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18388/abp.2020_5371

Abstract

The phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a tumor suppressor lipid phosphatase frequently mutated or deleted in breast cancer cells. Loss of PTEN is associated with aberrant activation of P13K/AKT signaling pathways, which are responsible for uncontrolled cell cycle, migration and prolonged survival. Therefore, stability and functional PTEN is essential for prevention of cancer growth and migration. In the present study, we have determined the effect of PTEN over expression in apoptosis induction and cell proliferation in breast cancer cells. We showed that PTEN over expression significantly declined the cell proliferation rate during logarithmic growth phase. Furthermore, the PTEN over expression leads to the activation of mitochondrial based intrinsic apoptosis pathways, which is confirmed by the activation and over expression of caspases 9 and caspases 3. In addition, the number of apoptotic cells are significantly more in PTEN over expressed cells, where they showed more apoptotic bodies in AO-EtBr and Hoechst 33344 staining. Finally, PTEN over expressed cells showed decreased chemo resistance as chemotherapeutic drugs kill them efficiently. Therefore, our findings suggest that tumor suppressive effect of PTEN is crucial for cancer prevention and thus PTEN might be a potential target for anti-cancer drugs.