Phenol red in tissue culture media is a weak estrogen: implications concerning the study of estrogen-responsive cells in culture.

Berthois, Yolande; Katzenellenbogen, John A.; Katzenellenbogen, Benita S.

doi:10.1073/pnas.83.8.2496

Cited by 1,076 publications

(564 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Phenol red is commonly used in colorimetric measurements to determine the pH of a solution, because the magnitude of its absorption dip at λ = 570 nm is sensitive to pH. 45 Following the same experimental procedure as described above for Figure 1, we measure the unitless absorbance A for different phenol red concentrations, using eq 2:…”

Section: ■ Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiscattering-Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy

2015

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An original scheme for sensitive absorption measurements, particularly well-suited for low analyte concentrations, is presented. The technique is based on multiscattering-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (MEAS) and benefits from the advantages of conventional absorption spectroscopy: simplicity, rapidity, and low costs. The technique relies on extending the optical path through the sensing volume by suspending dielectric beads in the solution containing the analytes of interest, resulting in multiple scattering of light, which increases the optical path length through the sample. This way, a higher sensitivity and lower limit of detection, compared to those of conventional absorption spectroscopy, can be achieved. The approach is versatile and can be used for a broad variety of analytes. Here, it is applied to the detection of phenol red, 10 nm gold nanoparticles, and envy green fluorescence dye; the limit of detection is decreased by a factor of 7.2 for phenol red and a factor of 3.3 for nanoparticles and dye. The versatility of this approach is illustrated by its application in increasing the sensitivity of colorimetric detection with gold nanoparticle probes and a commercially available hydrogen peroxide bioassay. The influence of different parameters describing the scattering medium is investigated in detail experimentally and numerically, with very good agreement between the two. Those parameters can be effectively used to tailor the enhancement for specific applications and analytes.

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Section: ■ Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiscattering-Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy

2015

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“…For this purpose, phenol red-free medium (Berthois et al, 1986) was used supplemented with DCC-treated FBS (Horwitz and McGuire, 1978). DCC-treatment of FBS is well known to remove endogenous steroids present in the serum (Horwitz and McGuire, 1978).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

All-trans-retinoic acid metabolites significantly inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in vitro

heusden

Wouters²,

Ramaekers³

et al. 1998

Br J Cancer

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Summary All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) is well known to inhibit the proliferation of human breast cancer cells. Much less is known about the antiproliferative activity of the naturally occurring metabolites and isomers of ATRA. In the present study, we investigated the antiproliferative activity of ATRA, its physiological catabolites 4-oxo-ATRA and 5,6-epoxy-ATRA and isomers 9-cis-RA and 1 3-cis-RA in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. MCF-7 cells were grown in steroid-and retinoid-free medium supplemented with growth factors. Under these culture conditions, ATRA and its naturally occurring catabolites and isomers showed significant antiproliferative activity in MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner (10-11 M to 10-M). The antiproliferative activity of ATRA catabolites and isomers was equal to that of the parent compound ATRA at concentrations of 10-M and 1 07 M. Only at 10-6 M were the catabolites and the stereoisomer 1 3-cis-RA less potent. The stereoisomer 9-cis-RA was as potent as ATRA at all concentrations tested (1 0-11 M to 10-M). In addition, we show that the catabolites and isomers were formed from ATRA to only a limited extent. Together, our findings suggest that in spite of their high antiproliferative activity the catabolites and isomers of ATRA cannot be responsible for the observed growth inhibition induced by ATRA.

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“…The cells were cultured to near confluency in plastic culture flasks and then transferred to phenol red-free media containing 10% charcoal-stripped fetal bovine serum with antibiotics/antimycotics. Phenol red-free media were used as phenol red was previously found to have weak oestrogenic activity (Berthois et al, 1986) and charcoal-stripped fetal bovine serum is devoid of steroid hormones.…”

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confidence: 99%

Steroid hormone regulation of prostate-specific antigen gene expression in breast cancer

Zarghami

Grass²,

Diamandis³

1997

Br J Cancer

113

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Summary We have recently reported that about 30-40% of female breast tumours produce prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and that PSA production is associated with the presence of oestrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors. We have now developed a tissue culture system to study the regulation of the PSA gene in breast cancer. The breast carcinoma cell line T-47D produces PSA when stimulated by androgens, progestins and glucocorticoids/mineralocorticoids but not oestrogens. PSA mRNA appears approximately 2 h after stimulation; PSA protein appears after 4-8 h. Among 38 compounds tested, only androgens and progestins were able to stimulate PSA production at concentrations below 10-9 M. Evidence that the progesterone and androgen receptors can regulate the PSA gene independently was provided as follows: (a) the progestin norgestimate, which does not bind to the androgen receptor, up-regulates the PSA gene at concentrations as low as 10-10 M; (b) triamicinolone acetonide, which does not bind to the androgen receptor (AR) but binds to the PR, acts similarly to norgestimate; (c) the antiandrogen cyproterone acetate, which blocks the androgen receptor but has progestational activity, up-regulates the PSA gene at concentrations as low as 10-10 M; (d) the antiprogestin mifepristone completely blocks the stimulation of the specific progestin norgestimate. Our tissue culture system identified androgen -progestin agonist activities of 17a-ethinyloestradiol, the antioestrogen RU56, 187 and the antiprogestin mifepristone. Our data suggest that the expression of the PSA gene in the female breast is under the control of androgens and progestins. Our tissue culture system is a highly sensitive in vitro method for evaluating the biological activity of candidate compounds having agonist and antagonist steroid hormone activity.

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Phenol red in tissue culture media is a weak estrogen: implications concerning the study of estrogen-responsive cells in culture.

Cited by 1,076 publications

References 19 publications

Multiscattering-Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy

Multiscattering-Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy

All-trans-retinoic acid metabolites significantly inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in vitro

Steroid hormone regulation of prostate-specific antigen gene expression in breast cancer

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