Objective: To characterize the effects of genistein (GS) on tumor-associated gene expression in MCF-7 cells and to explore the mechanisms. Method: MCF-7 cells were treated with GS (75?10-6 mol/L) or with vehicle (0.1% ethanol, EtOH) for 72 h. The cells were collected and total RNA was extracted, marked by two different fluorescence dyes (Cy3 and Cy5) using reverse transcriptional reaction, respectively. The derived cRNA was hybridized to human tumor-associated microarrays. Data were processed using the Scan Array 3000 and ontological analysis was performed using the Ima Gene 3.0 software. Results: At 72 h, 18 transcripts were downregulated compared to EtOH vehicle control by greater than 2- fold and 4 were upregulated by less than 0.5-fold. The predominant ontological groupings were oncogenes, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and estrogen-regulation genes. Conclusion: GS treatment is associated with significant changes in gene expression in several functional categories in MCF-7 cells, and this might account for the role of genistein in prevention of breast cancer.

AIM: To investigate the effect of cyclophosphamide(CTX) on proliferation and apoptosis of mesangial cells(GMC) of rat in vitro. METHODS: GMC proliferation was detected by MTT method, GMC apoptosis was examined by inverted microscopy for phase-contract and fluoroscopy and flow cytometry analysis. The levels of Fas and Bcl-2 were also detected by immunohistology. RESULTS: The proliferation of GMC were inhibited by CTX, methylprednisolone(MP), low molecular weight heparin(LMWH). Apoptosis of GMC was induced by CTX, the apoptosis rate of GMC was 8.2%, and the Fas level was increased. CONCLUSION: CTX could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of GMC possibly by enhancing the Fas level.