Modulation of Cellular Response to Arsenic Trioxide Toxicity by Resveratrol

Arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) is an environmental carcinogen and a putative endocrine disruptor. Resveratrol has been shown to reverse As₂O₃-induced oxidative damage. In immortalized but nontransformed estrogen receptor α-negative human breast cells (MCF10A), we observed that 25 μM resveratrol ameliorated As₂O₃-induced cytotoxicity. As₂O₃, in the presence or absence of 25 μM resveratrol, induced quinone reductase (NAD­(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1), via the induction of NFE2-related factor 2. As₂O₃ caused a repression of cytochrome P450 (CYP)­1B1, but the addition of 25 μM resveratrol rescued the expression of cytochrome P450 1B1 and kept it at a constant level. Therefore, 25 μM resveratrol can modulate the effects of As₂O₃ on enzymes involved in estrogen metabolism