Functional Role of Resveratrol in Inducing Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Subtypes via Inhibition of Intracellular Fatty Acid Synthase

Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is frequently overexpressed in human breast cancer and has emerged as a potential therapeutic target. Resveratrol has been shown to inhibit FASN activity in vitro through both fast-reversible and slow-irreversible mechanisms. In this study, resveratrol reduced intracellula...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ping Li, Yan Liang, Xiaofeng Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/14/2891
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849252000219267072
author Ping Li
Yan Liang
Xiaofeng Ma
author_facet Ping Li
Yan Liang
Xiaofeng Ma
author_sort Ping Li
collection DOAJ
description Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is frequently overexpressed in human breast cancer and has emerged as a potential therapeutic target. Resveratrol has been shown to inhibit FASN activity in vitro through both fast-reversible and slow-irreversible mechanisms. In this study, resveratrol reduced intracellular fatty acid levels by inhibiting FASN activity and downregulating its expression across various breast cancer subtypes, including SK-BR-3, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231 cells. Knockdown of FASN via small interfering RNA (siRNA) further enhanced resveratrol-induced cytotoxicity. Resveratrol significantly suppressed cell viability and triggered apoptosis, as evidenced by increased cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and disruption of Bcl-2 family protein balance. Furthermore, resveratrol inhibited key signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation and survival, notably FAK, AKT, and ERK1/2. FASN silencing by siRNA also modulated the activation states of these signaling proteins. Collectively, these findings support resveratrol as a promising anti-cancer candidate that induces apoptosis in diverse breast cancer subtypes via FASN inhibition.
format Article
id doaj-art-38ccae4b946a4442928e4e9bf3cbb8cb
institution Kabale University
issn 1420-3049
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Molecules
spelling doaj-art-38ccae4b946a4442928e4e9bf3cbb8cb2025-08-20T03:56:46ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-07-013014289110.3390/molecules30142891Functional Role of Resveratrol in Inducing Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Subtypes via Inhibition of Intracellular Fatty Acid SynthasePing Li0Yan Liang1Xiaofeng Ma2University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, ChinaSchool of Kinesiology and Health, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, No. 11 Beisanhuanxi Road, Beijing 100191, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, ChinaFatty acid synthase (FASN) is frequently overexpressed in human breast cancer and has emerged as a potential therapeutic target. Resveratrol has been shown to inhibit FASN activity in vitro through both fast-reversible and slow-irreversible mechanisms. In this study, resveratrol reduced intracellular fatty acid levels by inhibiting FASN activity and downregulating its expression across various breast cancer subtypes, including SK-BR-3, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231 cells. Knockdown of FASN via small interfering RNA (siRNA) further enhanced resveratrol-induced cytotoxicity. Resveratrol significantly suppressed cell viability and triggered apoptosis, as evidenced by increased cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and disruption of Bcl-2 family protein balance. Furthermore, resveratrol inhibited key signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation and survival, notably FAK, AKT, and ERK1/2. FASN silencing by siRNA also modulated the activation states of these signaling proteins. Collectively, these findings support resveratrol as a promising anti-cancer candidate that induces apoptosis in diverse breast cancer subtypes via FASN inhibition.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/14/2891resveratrolfatty acid synthaseinhibitorbreast cancer cellscell apoptosis
spellingShingle Ping Li
Yan Liang
Xiaofeng Ma
Functional Role of Resveratrol in Inducing Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Subtypes via Inhibition of Intracellular Fatty Acid Synthase
Molecules
resveratrol
fatty acid synthase
inhibitor
breast cancer cells
cell apoptosis
title Functional Role of Resveratrol in Inducing Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Subtypes via Inhibition of Intracellular Fatty Acid Synthase
title_full Functional Role of Resveratrol in Inducing Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Subtypes via Inhibition of Intracellular Fatty Acid Synthase
title_fullStr Functional Role of Resveratrol in Inducing Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Subtypes via Inhibition of Intracellular Fatty Acid Synthase
title_full_unstemmed Functional Role of Resveratrol in Inducing Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Subtypes via Inhibition of Intracellular Fatty Acid Synthase
title_short Functional Role of Resveratrol in Inducing Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Subtypes via Inhibition of Intracellular Fatty Acid Synthase
title_sort functional role of resveratrol in inducing apoptosis in breast cancer subtypes via inhibition of intracellular fatty acid synthase
topic resveratrol
fatty acid synthase
inhibitor
breast cancer cells
cell apoptosis
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/14/2891
work_keys_str_mv AT pingli functionalroleofresveratrolininducingapoptosisinbreastcancersubtypesviainhibitionofintracellularfattyacidsynthase
AT yanliang functionalroleofresveratrolininducingapoptosisinbreastcancersubtypesviainhibitionofintracellularfattyacidsynthase
AT xiaofengma functionalroleofresveratrolininducingapoptosisinbreastcancersubtypesviainhibitionofintracellularfattyacidsynthase