PhTAD-Substituted Dihydropyrrole Compounds Regulate Apoptotic Cell Death in MCF-7 Cells

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer amongst women. Apoptosis is known as a programmed cell death and this mechanism induces cancer cell death. Dihydropyrrole compounds contain a heterocyclic structure and these molecules have many biological effects including functioning as antioxidants and anticancer molecules. In this regard, the aim of this research was to investigate how PhTAD-substituted dihydropyrrole compounds affect the expression of apoptotic cell death proteins in the MCF-7 cells. The levels of Bax, Bcl-2, and cleaved caspase-3 proteins in the MCF-7 cells were measured using the ELISA method. The results revealed that CI, CII, CIII, CV, CVII, CVIII, CXI and CXII increased Bax, while CXIII and CXIV markedly decreased Bax. In addition, compounds CI, CII, CIII, CVII, CVIII, CXI and CXII upregulated Bcl2. Conversely, CIV, and CXIV downregulated Bcl2. Moreover, CIV and CXIV increased the Bax/Bcl2 ratio. However, CVIII and CXIII decreased Bax/Bcl2 ratio. In addition, CI, CIV, CIX and CXII treatment increased cleaved caspase-3 in MCF-7 cells compared to the negative control. These findings indicate that the PhTAD-substituted dihydropyrrole derivative molecules induced apoptotic proteins as a potential regulator of cancer cell death.