Serum and insulin inhibit cell death induced by cycloheximide in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7

A. Geier, R. Beery, M. Haimshon, R. Hemi, B. Lunenfeld

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Continuous exposure of cells to cycloheximide (CHM) terminates in cell death. This may result from CHM's inhibition of protein synthesis. In the present study we investigated the effect of serum and insulin on cell death induced by CHM in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7, and correlated this effect to the inhibition of protein synthesis. Cell death was evaluated by measuring either dead cells by the trypan blue dye exclusion test or by the release of lactic dehydrogenase into the culture medium. CHM (0.1 to 50 μg/ml) was shown to induce cell death in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Including either fetal bovine serum or insulin in the culture medium inhibited this cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. Protein synthesis as measured by [3H]leucine incorporation was inhibited by the increasing concentration of CHM. However, fetal bovine serum and insulin did not alter the protein synthesis inhibition rate induced by CHM. These results indicate that inhibition of protein synthesis is not enough for cell death to proceed. Insulin or factors present in serum may stabilize some crucial cell proteins (key enzymes, cytoskeletal or membrane components) which are vital for cell life.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)415-418
Number of pages4
JournalIn Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology
Volume28 A
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1992
Externally publishedYes

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