Study on the Effects of Genistein on the Transformation of BALB/c - 3T3 Cells

BACKGROUND AIM: To study the transforming effects of genistein on BALB/ c-3T3 cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used the improved BALB/c-3T3 cell transformation assay to observe the transformation of cells treated by: GEN, B[a]P(10μmol/L) + GEN and MCA(0.2μg/ml) +TPA(0.1 μg/ml) + GEN,at the same time, to detect mutant P53 and PTK activity .RESULTS: When GEN ≥30 μmol/L ,the transforming frequency of BALB/c-3T3 cells was significantly increased compared with Contnol(DMSO 0.5 %) (P 0.01) .The transforming frequency induced by B[a]P (10 μmol/L) +GEN(30μmol/L)was much higher than that by B[a]P(10 μmol/L). Expression of mutant P53 was also increased in the group treated by B[a]P(10 μmol/L) + GEN(30μmol/L), B[a]P(10μmol/Dand GEN(30 μmol/L) However,GEN≥30 μmol/L could inhibit the cell transformation induced by MCA + TPA;PTK activity also decreased with increasing the dose of GEN. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that GEN could induce cell transformation itself,on the other hand,it could also inhibit cell transformation under certain conditions.