BACKGROUNDThe tumor suppressor wild-type p53 is known for its role in inducing apoptosis in tumor cells. This study investigated the relationship between wild-type p53 and protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and caspase in promoting apoptosis of breast cancer cells.METHODSHuman breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 obtained from the American Type Culture Collection were used in this study. Small interference RNAs (Si-RNA) and plasmids were used to regulate wild-type p53 expression in these two tumor cell lines through liposome-mediated transfection. GSK-2830371 (PP1 inhibitor) and zVAD (Caspase inhibitor) were employed to further verify the PP1 activating function of wild-type p53 in Caspase-dependent MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 apoptosis. PP1 activity was quantitatively detected by phosphorus colorimetric assay. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), flow cytometry assay, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, Western blot, the real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and immunofluorescence staining were used to analyze cell apoptosis degree and marker protein expression.RESULTSThe expression level of PP1 in the breast cancer cells was successfully regulated by cell transfection. The phosphatase activity was increased, and obvious apoptotic cytological characteristics were observed in p53-overexpressed breast cancer cells. p53 knockdown/overexpression increased/decreased the level of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and decreased/increased levels of Caspase-3, cleaved Caspase-3, cleaved Caspase-8, Cytochrome C (Cyt-C), Truncated BID (tBid), Bcl-2-associated X (Bax), and cell apoptosis (p < 0.01). The promotion of proteins and apoptosis induced by p53 overexpression was reversed by GSK-2830371 or zVAD.CONCLUSIONWild-type p53 might promote Caspase-dependent apoptosis of human breast cancer cells through PP1 activation.