Effects of L-arginine Treatment on Inflammation in MDA-MB-231 Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells
Name: LORENA SOUZA RITTBERG MAURICIO
Publication date: 21/03/2025
Examining board:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| FLAVIA IMBROISI VALLE ERRERA | Examinador Interno |
| GIRLÂNDIA ALEXANDRE BRASIL AMORIM | Examinador Externo |
| SONIA ALVES GOUVEA | Presidente |
Summary: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer lacking hormone receptors or HER2, which limits therapeutic options and worsens prognosis. Given the scarcity of therapeutic targets, the search for strategies that influence the
cellular mechanisms involved in tumor progression has been investigated. In this context, L-arginine, a conditionally essential amino acid, has stood out for its potential to regulate inflammation and tumor metabolism, which may, in turn, positively influence the response to treatment. The main objective is to evaluate the effects of L-arginine on cell viability and inflammation-related pathways in MDA-MB231 cells. MDA-MB-231 cells were subjected to different concentrations of L-arginine (800ug/ml; 1600ug/ml; and 3200ug/ml) for 48h. The AlamarBlue® assay was used to measure proliferation and evaluate cell viability. To evaluate the expression of Nrf2 and NF-kB, the Western Blot method was performed and inflammatory cytokines were quantified by flow cytometry. The results showed that L-arginine decreased the cell viability of MDA MB 231 cells at higher concentrations of 1600ug/ml; and 3200ug/ml there was an increase in the expression of Nrf2 and NF-kb, which can activate the ferroptosis pathway; increased levels of cytokines such as IL-17A, IL-6, IL-2 and IFN-; decreased IL-10 and there were no significant changes between the IL-4 and TNF- groups. These findings suggest that L-arginine has potential as a therapeutic strategy in breast cancer, especially in the context of aggressive tumors such as TNBC.
