AKT1负性调控乳腺癌细胞迁移的机制研究

目的:明确AKT1负性调控乳腺癌细胞迁移的分子机制,为乳腺癌转移的防治提供新思路和新靶点。方法:以乳腺癌MCF-7细胞和MDA-MB-231细胞为研究对象,采用RNA干扰技术敲减AKT1的表达,Western blot检测AKT1总蛋白、β-连环蛋白(β-catenin)总蛋白和核蛋白的表达,免疫荧光检测β-catenin在乳腺癌细胞中的定位,Transwell迁移实验探究β-catenin的核转位是否参与AKT1负性调控乳腺癌细胞迁移的过程。结果:敲减AKT1表达后,β-catenin总蛋白与核蛋白的表达明显上调,乳腺癌MCF-7细胞和MDA-MB-231细胞的迁移能力也明显增强,使用XAV-939抑制β-catenin的核移位后,敲减AKT1表达引起的乳腺癌细胞迁移能力的增强也明显下降。结论:AKT1对乳腺癌细胞迁移的负性调控可能是由β-catenin核转位介导的。

Mechanism of AKT1 negatively regulating breast cancer cell migration

AIM: To investigate the molecular mechanism and downstream signaling pathway by which AKT1 inhibition regulates breast cancer cell migration. METHODS: RNA interference was used to knockdown the expression of AKT1. Western blot assay was performed to examine the expression of AKT1 total protein, β-catenin total protein and β-catenin nuclear protein. Immunofluorescence was used to examine the cellular localization of β-catenin. Transwell assay was used to investigate whether β-catenin nuclear accumulation as an alternative pathway was responsible for breast cancer metastasis induced by AKT1 inhibition. RESULTS: The total protein expression of AKT1 was decreased in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with AKT1 siRNA. A significant increase in the protein expression of β-catenin was observed in MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with AKT1 siRNA. Immunofluorescence staining showed that MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells displayed strong β-catenin staining in the cytoplasm and nucleus after knockdown of AKT1 expression. The ability of tumor cell migration increased dramatically after treated with AKT1 specific siRNA in the breast cancer MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells in Transwell assay. XAV-939 reversed breast cancer cell migration induced by knockdown of AKT1 expression. CONCLUSION: β-catenin nuclear accumulation contributes to AKT1 inhibition-mediated breast cancer cell migration.