Stable transfection of estrogen receptor-alpha suppresses expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor-C in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.
- Author:
Hui ZHANG
1
;
Ying LIN
;
Ying XIAO
;
San-ming WANG
;
Xiang-xia LIU
;
Shen-ming WANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Blotting, Western; Breast Neoplasms; genetics; metabolism; Cell Cycle; genetics; physiology; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement; genetics; physiology; Cell Proliferation; Cyclooxygenase 2; genetics; metabolism; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Estrogen Receptor alpha; genetics; metabolism; Female; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Transfection; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; genetics; metabolism
- From: Chinese Medical Journal 2010;123(15):1989-1994
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUNDEstrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer cells are more aggressive than ER-positive cells. Elevated levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) expression have been detected in cultured human breast cancer cells and are associated with negative hormone receptor status. In this study, we created ERalpha stable transfectants in MDA-MB-231 cells to explore the effect of ERalpha on cell growth and COX-2 and VEGF-C expression.
METHODSThe green fluorescent protein (GFP)-ERalpha plasmids were stably transfected into ER-negative MDA-MB-231 cells. The proliferation and migration of untransfected MDA-MB-231 cells, ERalpha-transfected MDA-MB-231 cells and ER-positive MCF-7 cells were determined. The expression of COX-2, and the levels of VEGF-C mRNA and the VEGF-C secretion concentration were assayed in these cell lines.
RESULTSThe proliferation and migration capacities of ERalpha-tranfected MDA-MB-231 cells were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The expression of COX-2 was significantly lower in ERalpha-tranfected MDA-MB-231 cells than in untranfected MDA-MB-231 cells. The mRNA and protein levels of VEGF-C were lower in ERalpha-tranfected MDA-MB-231 cells than in untransfected MDA-MB-231 cells (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONSERalpha stable transfection inhibits proliferation and migration capacities of MDA-MB-231 cells and decreases expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C. The decreases of proliferation and migration capacities may be related to suppression of COX-2 and VEGF-C expression.
