Role of TM4SF1 in regulating breast cancer cell migration and apoptosis through PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of transmembrane-4-l-six-family-1 (TM4SF1) on breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 invasion and apoptosis and its mechanism through PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Methods: siRNA-TM4SF1 and pcDNA-TM4SF1 plasma were constructed and then transfected into MDA-MB-231 cells respectively. Real time (RT)-PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of TM4SF1 in each group. Also, matrigel method and Annexin V-FITC were used to detect the effect of TM4SF1 expression on MDA-MB-231 cell migration and apoptosis respectively. Besides, western blotting analyze was used to assay the effects of TM4SF1 expression on PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway associated proteins expressions. Results: The results showed that after being transfected with siRNA-TM4SF1, TM4SF1 expression was significantly declined, while it was significantly increased after cells were transfected with pcDNA-TM4SF1 (P<0.05). Compared with the controls, TM4SF1 overexpression significantly contributed MDA-MB-231 cell migration but decreased apoptotic cells (P<0.05), which were opposite to the results when TM4SF1 was sliced in cells. Moreover, TM4SF1 slicing significantly decreased the expressions of phosphorylated (p)-AKT, p-mTOR, and p-P70 (P<0.05). Conclusion: Our study suggested that TM4SF1 may be a therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment and may loan insight into the mechanisms behind the development and metastasis of advanced breast cancer.