Pro-Oxidant Effect of Resveratrol on Human Breast Cancer MCF-7 Cells is Associated with CK2 Inhibition

Casein kinase 2 (CK2) plays a critical role in the proliferation and apoptosis of cancer cells. Resveratrol is a bioactive compound with anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. This study investigated the pro-oxidant cytotoxic effects of resveratrol in association with the inhibition of CK2 activity on human breast carcinoma cells MCF-7. We showed that resveratrol and TBB, an inhibitor of CK2, decreased cell viability in a concentration dependent manner with an IC50 value of 238 mu M and 106 mu M after 24 h, of treatment, respectively. Resveratrol and TBB decreased CK2 activity by 1.6 and 1.4-fold, respectively, and both significantly decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. However, only resveratrol increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels by 1.7-fold as opposed to TBB, which did not affect ROS levels. Indeed, incubating MCF-7 cells with the antioxidant polyethylene glycol-catalase (PEG-CAT) preserved cell viability from the cytotoxic effects of resveratrol, but not from TBB toxicity. This effect seemed to be related to PEG-CAT ability to prevent CK2 inhibition induced by resveratrol incubation. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the cytotoxic effect of resveratrol on MCF-7 cells might be associated with its pro-oxidant action, which inhibited CK2 activity, affecting cell viability and mitochondrial function.