Halotolerant Bacillus Licheniformis Extract Induces Apoptosis in Mcf-7 Cells Via Modulation of Bax/Bcl-2 Expression Publisher



Khoshandam M ; Memari M ; Kalhor N ; Khoshanda M ; Soltaninejad H ; Goudarzi M T H
Source: Iranian Journal of Medical Microbiology Published:2025

Abstract

Background and Aim: Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. The resistance of advanced tumors to conventional treatments highlights the need for alternative therapies. Apoptosis, regulated by key proteins like BAX (pro-apoptotic) and BCL-2 (anti-apoptotic), plays a crucial role in controlling cancer cell proliferation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a halotolerant Bacillus (B.) licheniformis extract, isolated from Hoz-e Sultan Lake in Qom Province, on the expression of BAX and BCL-2 genes in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Materials and Methods: MCF-7 cells were treated with various concentrations of the bacterial extract and cell viability was assessed using MTT assay. Staurosporine was used as positive control. RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and Real-Time PCR were performed to evaluate target genes expression levels. Statistical analysis was conducted using an independent t-test and P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: The extract significantly increased BAX expression (P<0.05) at 24, 48, and 72 hr, while BCL-2 expression initially decreased but showed a slight increase at 48 hr. The IC50 values decreased over time, indicating time-dependent cytotoxicity. Conclusion: The halotolerant B. licheniformis extract induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells through BAX/BCL-2 pathway modulation, suggesting its potential as an alternative therapeutic source. Further studies are needed to identify active compounds and validate efficacy in vivo. © 2025. (Farname Inc.) All rights reserved.