Scholarlink

Background <p>Vitamin D is a crucial regulator of immune responses and has recognized anti-proliferative effects in cancer. However, its clinical use is limited by poor solubility and bioavailability. Nanocarrier systems, such as carbon quantum dots (CQDs), may improve vitamin D delivery and activity.</p> Methods <p>MCF-7 breast cancer cells were treated with free vitamin D or vitamin D-loaded CQDs (CQD-VitD). Cell viability was measured using the WST-8 assay; migration was assessed with a wound-healing assay; and gene expression of <i>IL-6</i>, <i>IL-10</i>, <i>NF-κB</i>, <i>TNF-α</i>, and <i>VDR</i> was analyzed through qRT-PCR.</p> Results <p>CQD-VitD significantly increased cell viability compared to both control and free vitamin D (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01). Wound-healing assays demonstrated that CQD-VitD markedly inhibited cell migration, while free vitamin D caused moderate wound closure. Gene expression analysis showed that free vitamin D slightly decreased <i>IL-6</i> and significantly suppressed <i>IL-10</i> (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Conversely, CQD-VitD strongly upregulated <i>IL-10</i> (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and <i>NF-κB</i> (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), with <i>TNF-α</i> and <i>VDR</i> expression remaining unchanged.</p> Conclusion <p>CQD-based delivery of vitamin D enhances its cellular activity and selectively affects immune-related genes in breast cancer cells. Although CQD-VitD reduced migration and increased cell viability, its upregulation of <i>IL-10</i> and <i>NF-κB</i> suggests a complex role in tumor–immune interactions. These findings highlight both the potential and the challenges of nanocarrier-mediated vitamin D delivery in breast cancer therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effects of vitamin D-loaded carbon quantum dots on immune-related gene expression in breast cancer cells.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Vitamin D delivered through carbon quantum dots modifies cytokine expression and migration in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月29日

查看全文
  • Lutfiye Karcioglu Batur,
  • Cuneyd Yavas,
  • Firuze Kulus,
  • Buse Aslan,
  • Ahsen Pektas,
  • Besa Bilakaya,
  • Nermin Akcali,
  • Elif Sibel Aslan,
  • Furkan Gunen,
  • İsmail Tuncer Degim

摘要

Background

Vitamin D is a crucial regulator of immune responses and has recognized anti-proliferative effects in cancer. However, its clinical use is limited by poor solubility and bioavailability. Nanocarrier systems, such as carbon quantum dots (CQDs), may improve vitamin D delivery and activity.

Methods

MCF-7 breast cancer cells were treated with free vitamin D or vitamin D-loaded CQDs (CQD-VitD). Cell viability was measured using the WST-8 assay; migration was assessed with a wound-healing assay; and gene expression of IL-6, IL-10, NF-κB, TNF-α, and VDR was analyzed through qRT-PCR.

Results

CQD-VitD significantly increased cell viability compared to both control and free vitamin D (p < 0.01). Wound-healing assays demonstrated that CQD-VitD markedly inhibited cell migration, while free vitamin D caused moderate wound closure. Gene expression analysis showed that free vitamin D slightly decreased IL-6 and significantly suppressed IL-10 (p < 0.05). Conversely, CQD-VitD strongly upregulated IL-10 (p < 0.001) and NF-κB (p < 0.05), with TNF-α and VDR expression remaining unchanged.

Conclusion

CQD-based delivery of vitamin D enhances its cellular activity and selectively affects immune-related genes in breast cancer cells. Although CQD-VitD reduced migration and increased cell viability, its upregulation of IL-10 and NF-κB suggests a complex role in tumor–immune interactions. These findings highlight both the potential and the challenges of nanocarrier-mediated vitamin D delivery in breast cancer therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effects of vitamin D-loaded carbon quantum dots on immune-related gene expression in breast cancer cells.