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Breast cancer remains a significant challenge in oncology, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic options. This study investigates the anticancer effects of ethanol and n-hexane fractions derived from the methanol extract of the Leptastrea purpurea sponge on T47D breast cancer cells. Employing cytotoxicity assays (MTT and WST-1), mitochondrial transmembrane potential assays, and protein expression analysis of p53, Caspase-3, and Bax, we aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying their potential anticancer activity. LC-MS/MS analysis was utilized to identify active compounds within the fractions. The results of the experiment demonstrate that the ethanol fraction exhibits significant efficacy against T47D breast cancer cells, with an IC50 value of 25.36 μg/mL indicating potent cytotoxicity. At a concentration of 1508 μg/mL, it induces cell death in 95% of T47D cells, highlighting its specificity in targeting breast cancer cells. Comparative analysis with cisplatin reveals a 9.92% higher rate of cell death induced by the ethanol fraction, suggesting superior apoptosis induction capability. Flow cytometry results show increased p53 expression at concentrations of 754 and 1508 μg/mL, with a concentration-dependent pattern. Furthermore, notable increases in Bax protein expression at concentrations of 377 and 754 μg/mL suggest the involvement of the ethanol fraction in regulating apoptosis. In conclusion, the ethanol fraction demonstrates promising potential as a cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing agent for breast cancer therapy. These findings underscore the importance of exploring natural products from marine sources as potential anticancer agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key factors of pyroptosis play an important role in the inflammatory response to connective tissue disease (CTD). However, information on active and stable stages of CTD is scarce. To distinguish the differences of concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), caspase 1, caspase 4, caspase 5 and sCD14 in plasma between the patients with active and stable stages of CTD. A cohort study was conducted to recruit patients diagnosed with CTD of active phase and stable phase as well as health control. These data included the analysis of the concentration of sCD14, caspase 1, caspase 4 and caspase 5 in peripheral plasma by ELISA. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare the two groups. The sex ratio and ages of the three groups were not different statistically. The concentrations of sCD14, caspase4 and caspase5 of plasma in the CTD of active phase and the stable phase as well as the health control. The concentration of caspase 1 in active phase of CTD (470.19 [422.33–513.14] pmol/L) was significantly higher than that in stable group (203.95 [160.94–236.12] pmol/L) and healthy control (201.65 [191.11–240.35] pmol/L] pmol/L) (p < 0.001, both), but there was no significant difference between stable group and healthy control (p = 0.2312). Similarly, the concentration of CRP in the active phase of CTD (8.96 [3.06–20.28] mg/L) was significantly higher than that in the stable group (3.00 [1.30–11.40] mg/L) and the healthy control (3.70 [2.30–4.73] mg/L) (p = 0.0013, p = 0.0006, respectively), but there was no significant difference between the stable group and the healthy control (p = 0.3205). However, there were no significant differences in the concentration of sCD14, caspase 4 and caspase 5 in the active phase of CTD and the stable group as well as the health group. Consequently, the patients of the active phase of CTD showed increased expression of caspase 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]