Interdependency and differential expression of ERK1 and ERK2 in breast and melanoma cell lines.

BACKGROUND: Regulatory mechanism of ERK1 and ERK2, their mechanisms of action, and how they impact on development, growth, and homeostasis of different organisms have been given much emphasis for long. ERK1 and 2 though are isoforms of ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase but are coded by two different genes MAPK3 and MAPK1 respectively and show differential expressions and interdependency in different cancer cell lines. Our previous investigations substantially stated the effect of ERK1 and ERK2 on different extracellular molecules like MMPs and integrins, responsible for cell growth and differentiation. Here, we aim to study individual roles of ERK1 and ERK2 and their interdependency in progression and invasiveness in various cancer cell lines. METHODS: Different cancer cell lines namely B16F10 (melanoma), MCF7, and MDAMB231 (breast cancer) for studying this particular question were used. Methodologies like gelatin zymography, immunoprecipitation, Western blotting, cell invasion assay, wound healing assay, siRNA transfection, and double transfection procedures were followed for our study. RESULTS: Our findings suggest compensation for ERK2 deficiency by pERK1, clear ERK2 predominance in MCF7 cell line, ERK1-ERK2 interdependency in MDAMB231 cells with regard to compensating each other, and significant role of both ERK1 and ERK2 in modulation of MMP9. CONCLUSION: If summarized, our results prove the contribution of ERK2 in compensating ERK1 loss and vice versa and an evident role of ERK1 in cancer cell invasiveness.

Interactions of Mn complexes with DNA: the relevance of therapeutic applications towards cancer treatment.

Manganese (Mn) is one of the most significant bio-metals that helps the body to form connective tissue, bones, blood clotting factors, and sex hormones. It is necessary for fat and carbohydrate metabolism, calcium absorption, blood sugar regulation, and normal brain and nerve functions. It accelerates the synthesis of proteins, vitamin C, and vitamin B. It is also involved in the catalysis of hematopoiesis, regulation of the endocrine level, and improvement of immune function. Again, Mn metalloenzymes like arginase, glutamine synthetase, phosphoenolpyruvate decarboxylase, and Mn superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) contribute to the metabolism processes and reduce oxidative stress against free radicals. Recent investigations have revealed that synthetic Mn-complexes act as antibacterial and antifungal agents. As a result, chemists and biologists have been actively involved in developing Mn-based drugs for the treatment of various diseases including cancer. Therefore, any therapeutic drugs based on manganese complexes would be invaluable for the treatment of cancer/infectious diseases and could be a better substitute for cisplatin and other related platinum based chemotherapeutic drugs. From this perspective, attempts have been made to discuss the interactions and nuclease activities of Mn(II/III/IV) complexes with DNA through which one can evaluate their therapeutic applications.

Extracellular matrix protein laminin induces matrix metalloproteinase-9 in human breast cancer cell line mcf-7.

Studies on interaction of tumor cells with extracellular matrix (ECM) components showed increased extracellular protease activity mediated by the family of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Here we studied the effect of human breast cancer cell line MCF-7-laminin (LM) interaction on MMPs and the underlying signaling pathways. Culturing of MCF-7 cells on LM coated surface upregulated MMP-9 expression as well as reduced tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) expression. LM induced MMP-9 expression is abrogated by the blockade of α2 integrin. Inhibitor studies indicate possible involvement of phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase (PI3K), extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) in LM induced signaling. LM treatment also enhanced phosphorylation of FAK (focal adhesion kinase), PI3K, ERK; nuclear translocation of ERK, pERK, NF-κB and cell migration. Our findings indicate that, binding of MCF-7 cells to LM, possibly via α2ß1 integrin, induces signaling involving FAK, PI3K, ERK, NF-κB followed by upregulation of MMP-9 and cell migration.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 as a potential tumor marker in breast cancer.

This study aimed to detect the comparative expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and its correlation with known pathological parameters such as estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in 81 malignant breast tumors and adjacent normal breast tissues and in blood sera of these patients from different clinical TNM stages (ductal carcinoma in situ to T4) of breast cancer. MMP-9 was highly expressed in node-positive tumors and the preoperative blood serum of patients, but MMP-9 activity was appreciably inhibited in blood serum samples collected after surgery. The mature form of MMP-9 (84 kD) was expressed only in clinical stage III tumors (T2-4). Appreciable reduction of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1, phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor, and translocation of nuclear factor-κΒ suggested their possible role in MMP-9 activation in HER2-positive breast cancer Overexpression and activation of MMP-9 predicted a higher stage of hormone-sensitive ductal breast carcinoma. Downregulation of the endogenous inhibitor of MMP-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1, and translocation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-κΒ in tumors may have an appreciable role in the overexpression of MMP-9. However, MMP-9 activation was not correlated with expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors. Evaluation of MMP-9 expression may provide valuable information about breast cancer treatment.

Integrins and metastasis.

Metastasis is a combination of biological events that makes the difference between cancer and other diseases. Metastasis requires flow of erroneous but precisely coordinated basic cellular activities like cell migration-invasion, cell survival-apoptosis, cell proliferation, etc. All of these processes require efficient regulation of cell attachment and detachment, which recruit integrin receptors in this flow of events. World literatures show several aspects of interrelation of integrins and metastasis. Integrin molecules are being used as prime target to battle metastasis. In this review we are collating the observations showing importance of integrin biology in regulation of metastasis and the strategies where integrin receptors are being used as targets to regulate metastasis.

Modulation of MMPs by cell surface integrin receptor α5ß1.

MMPs are a family of Zn dependent endopeptidases, which can mediate degradation of ECM components during various physiological and pathological processes including cancer. Some ECM components, through interaction with integrin receptor and modulation of downstream signaling, are capable of regulating expression and activity of several MMPs. α5ß1 integrin is the universally accepted receptor for the ECM component fibronectin (FN). The present review deals with the downstream signaling involved in the α5ß1 integrin mediated modulation of expression and activity of MMPs and their effector responses in different cellular system.

Black tea polyphenol (theaflavin) downregulates MMP-2 in human melanoma cell line A375 by involving multiple regulatory molecules.

The tumor-inhibiting property of black tea polyphenol, theaflavin, is well documented. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a pivotal role in tumor invasion through degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM). In the present study, we observed the effect of theaflavin on MMP-2, which is upregulated in most tumor types, and its regulatory molecules, in human melanoma cell line, A375. The treatment of theaflavin downregulated the gelatinolytic activity, mRNA and protein expression of MMP-2. It reduced the mRNA and protein expression of membrane type-1 MMP (MT1-MMP) and induced mRNA and protein expression of tissue inhibitor of MMP-2 (TIMP-2), suggesting theaflavin's inhibitory effect on MMP-2 activation. Theaflavin reduced the binding of A375 cell to ECM ligands demonstrating that theaflavin treatment hinders cell-ECM adhesion, cell motility, and integrin-mediated MMP-2 activation. Theaflavin treatment inhibited the protein expression FAK EGFR and ERK, suggesting that, theaflavin treatment downregulates the molecules participating in MMP-2 secretion and regulation. The downregulation of NFchiB suggests downregulation of MMP-2 transactivation. Theaflavin also reduced the tumor volume in syngenic black mice. Thus, we report that theaflavin causes an inhibition of the expression and activity of pro-MMP-2 by a process involving multiple regulatory molecules in human melanoma cells, A375.

Multifunctional effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in downregulation of gelatinase-A (MMP-2) in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7.

AIMS: The tumor inhibiting property of green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is well documented. Studies reveal that matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) play pivotal roles in tumor invasion through degradation of basement membranes and extracellular matrix (ECM). We studied the effect of EGCG on matrixmetalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2), the factors involved in activation, secretion and signaling molecules that might be involved in the regulation of MMP-2 in human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. MAIN METHODS: MCF-7 was treated with EGCG (20 muM, 24 h), the effect of EGCG on MMP-2 expression, activity and its regulatory molecules were studied by gelatin zymography, Western blot, quantitative and semi-quantitative real time RT-PCR, immunoflourescence and cell adhesion assay. KEY FINDINGS: EGCG treatment reduced the activity, protein expression and mRNA expression level of MMP-2. EGCG treatment reduced the expression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), membrane type-1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and reduced the adhesion of MCF-7 cells to ECM, fibronectin and vitronectin. Real time RT-PCR revealed a reduced expression of integrin receptors alpha5, beta1, alphav and beta3 due to EGCG treatment. SIGNIFICANCE: Down regulation of expression of MT1-MMP, NF-kB, VEGF and disruption of functional status of integrin receptors may indicate decreased MMP-2 activation; low levels of FAK expression might indicate disruption in FAK-induced MMP-2 secretion and decrease in activation of phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase (PI-3K), extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) indicates probable hindrance in MMP-2 regulation and induction. We propose EGCG as potential inhibitor of expression and activity of pro-MMP-2 by a process involving multiple regulatory molecules in MCF-7.