Chemical ionization mass spectrometric determination of acrolein in human breast cancer cells

A selected ion flow tube-chemical ionization mass spectrometric method is presented for the first determination of acrolein metabolically produced in biological tissues. Acrolein in aqueous samples (2.5 ml) is preconcentrated by distillation and directly analyzed using gas-phase proton transfer from H3O+. This method provides sensitive detection of acrolein with the method detection limit of 15 nM at the 99% confidence level. Detection is linear up to the highest concentration studied (13.5 microM, R2 = 0.998). Acrolein levels are determined in doxorubicin-sensitive (MCF-7) and doxorubicin-resistant (MCF-7/Adr) human breast cancer cells in vitro. The intracellular acrolein concentrations differ insignificantly: 0.61 microM for sensitive cells and 0.54 microM for resistant cells. Treatment with a physiological concentration of doxorubicin (0.5 microM) for 24 h at 37 degrees C increased acrolein levels by factors of 2.6 and 1.9 for MCF-7 and MCF-7/Adr cells, respectively. The differential enhancement observed is consistent with the lower levels of enzymes that neutralize oxidative stress in sensitive MCF-7 cells and overexpression of an active drug efflux pump P-170 glycoprotein in resistant MCF-7/Adr cells.     

乳腺癌中CELF6的表达水平及其与预后的关系

目的:研究CELF6在乳腺癌组织与正常组织中的表达差异以及其在乳腺癌中的预后意义。方法:采用GEPIA分析乳腺癌组织与正常乳腺组织中CELF6的表达差异,免疫组化检测乳腺癌组织CELF6蛋白的表达。KM-plotter在线分析TCGA数据库中CELF6的表达差异与乳腺癌患者生存预后的关系,CCK8实验分析不同CELF6表达水平对乳腺癌细胞生长增殖的影响。结果:GEPIA在线软件分析结果显示乳腺癌CELF6表达较与正常组织显著降低(P0.001)。免疫组化检测结果显示乳腺癌患者的乳腺癌组织CELF6的阳性表达显著低于癌旁的正常组织。KM-plotter在线分析的生存曲线显示CELF6高表达的乳腺癌患者生存预后显著优于低表达者(P0.001)。CCK8实验显示敲低乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231中CELF6的表达,细胞增殖速度显著变快,而过表达CELF6的MDA-MB-231细胞的增殖速度减慢。结论:CELF6可能作为潜在的抑癌基因,在乳腺癌组织中低表达,与乳腺癌患者预后不良有关。     

Proteomic identification of glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor-dependent membrane proteins elevated in breast carcinoma

The glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor is a lipid and glycan modification added to the C terminus of certain proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum by the activity of a multiple subunit enzyme complex known as the GPI transamidase (GPIT). Several subunits of GPIT have increased expression levels in breast carcinoma. In an effort to identify GPI-anchored proteins and understand the possible role of these proteins in breast cancer progression, we employed a combination of strategies. First, alpha toxin from Clostridium septicum was used to capture GPI-anchored proteins from human breast cancer tissues, cells, and serum for proteomic analysis. We also expressed short interfering RNAs targeting the expression of the GPAA1 and PIGT subunits of GPIT in breast cancer cell lines to identify proteins in which membrane localization is dependent on GPI anchor addition. Comparative membrane proteomics using nano-ESI-RPLC-MS/MS led to the discovery of several new potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for breast cancer. Furthermore, we provide evidence that increased levels of GPI anchor addition in malignant breast epithelial cells promotes the dedifferentiation of malignant breast epithelial cells in part by increasing the levels of cell surface markers associated with mesenchymal stem cells.     

The role of oxidative stress in acrolein-induced DNA damage in HepG2 cells

This study evaluated the role of oxidative stress in acrolein-induced DNA damage, using HepG2 cells. Using the standard single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay, a significant dose-dependent increment in DNA migration was detected at lower concentrations of acrolein; but at the higher tested concentrations, a reduction in the migration was observed. Post-incubation with proteinase K significantly increased DNA migration in cells exposed to higher concentrations of acrolein. These results indicated that acrolein caused DNA strand breaks and DNA-protein crosslinks (DPC). To elucidate the oxidatively generated DNA damage mechanism, the 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) and o-phthalaldehyde (OPT) were used to monitor the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH), respectively. The present study showed that acrolein induced the increased levels of ROS and depletion of GSH in HepG2 cells. Moreover, acrolein significantly caused 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) formation in HepG2 cells. These results demonstrate that the DNA damage induced by acrolein in HepG2 cells is related to the oxidative stress.     

Prohibitin promotes androgen receptor activation in ER-positive breast cancer

Prohibitin (PHB) is an evolutionarily conserved protein with multiple functions in both normal and cancer cells. Androgen receptor (AR) was reported to act as a different role in the ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancer. However, little is known about the role of PHB and whether PHB could regulate AR expression in the ER-positive breast cancer. Here, we determined the expression and clinical outcomes of PHB in breast cancer samples using 121 breast cancer tissues and published databases, and investigated the role of PHB in breast cancer cell growth, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the ER-positive breast cancer cells. We obtained the expression of PHB is significantly low in breast cancer samples, and low PHB expression positively correlated with poor prognosis of breast cancer. We detected that PHB could inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation, change cell cycle distribution and promote cell apoptosis in the ER-positive breast cancer cells. Moreover, we found PHB could significantly increase AR expression in both mRNA and protein levels in the ER-positive breast cancer cells. Additionally, a significant positive correlation between PHB and AR expression was identified in the 121 breast cancer tissues. PHB and AR expression are associated with prognosis in the ER-positive breast cancer patients. Our results indicate that PHB promotes AR activation in ER-positive breast cancer, making PHB and AR potential molecular targets for ER-positive breast cancer therapy.     

High levels of arachidonic acid and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha in breast cancer tissues are associated with promoting cancer cell proliferation

Fatty acids are endogenous ligands of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARα), which is linked to the regulation of fatty acid uptake, lipid metabolism and breast cancer cell growth. This study was designed to screen candidate fatty acids from breast cancer tissue and to investigate the effects of these candidate fatty acids on PPARα expression, cell growth and cell cycle progression in breast cancer cell lines. One breast cancer tissue and one reference tissue were each taken from 30 individual breasts to examine for fatty acid composition and PPARα expression. The cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 (ER–), MCF-7 (ER++++) and BT-474 (ER++) were used to explore the mechanisms regulating cell proliferation. We found that arachidonic acid (AA) and PPARα were highly expressed in the breast cancer tissues. AA stimulated the growth of all three breast cancer cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The growth stimulatory effect of AA was associated with PPARα activation, and the most potent effect was found in MCF-7 cells. The stimulation of cell proliferation by AA was accompanied by the increased expression of cyclin E, a reduced population of G1 phase cells, and a faster G1/S phase transition. In contrast, AA had no effects on the levels of CDK2, CDK4, cyclin D1, p27, Bcl-2 and Bax. Our results demonstrate that high levels of AA and PPARα expression in human breast cancer tissues are associated with ER-overexpressed breast cancer cell proliferation, which is involved in activating PPARα, stimulating cyclin E expression, and promoting faster G1/S transition.     

The role of oxidative stress in acrolein-induced DNA damage in HepG2 cells

This study evaluated the role of oxidative stress in acrolein-induced DNA damage, using HepG2 cells. Using the standard single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay, a significant dose-dependent increment in DNA migration was detected at lower concentrations of acrolein; but at the higher tested concentrations, a reduction in the migration was observed. Post-incubation with proteinase K significantly increased DNA migration in cells exposed to higher concentrations of acrolein. These results indicated that acrolein caused DNA strand breaks and DNA-protein crosslinks (DPC). To elucidate the oxidatively generated DNA damage mechanism, the 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) and o-phthalaldehyde (OPT) were used to monitor the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH), respectively. The present study showed that acrolein induced the increased levels of ROS and depletion of GSH in HepG2 cells. Moreover, acrolein significantly caused 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) formation in HepG2 cells. These results demonstrate that the DNA damage induced by acrolein in HepG2 cells is related to the oxidative stress.     

花生四烯酸代谢相关酶和ERK与乳腺癌转移关系

花生四烯酸代谢相关酶环加氧酶(COX)、脂氧合酶(LOX)和活化的胞外信号调节激酶（p-ERK1/2）等与乳腺癌发生发展具有密切关系.为了进一步阐明它们在乳腺癌转移中的作用及其分子机制,应用反转录PCR（RT-PCR）、免疫印迹和免疫组化等方法,分别检测了乳腺癌细胞系、乳腺癌组织、癌旁组织和转移淋巴结组织中COX-2、5-LOX、12R-LOX、cPLA2和p-ERK1/2的表达水平.结果显示,与对照组相比,在具有高转移潜能的乳腺癌LM MCF-7细胞和MDA-MB-231细胞以及转移淋巴结组织中,COX-2、5-LOX、12R-LOX、cPLA2和p-ERK1/2均有较高水平表达.进而发现,p-ERK1/2的特异性抑制剂PD98059可拮抗LM-MCF-7细胞和MDA-MB-231细胞中COX-2、5-LOX、12R-LOX和cPLA2的高表达.上述结果表明,p-ERK1/2可以通过促进花生四烯酸代谢相关酶的表达促进乳腺癌细胞发生转移.     

Addiction to MTH1 protein results in intense expression in human breast cancer tissue as measured by liquid chromatography-isotope-dilution tandem mass spectrometry

MTH1 protein sanitizes the nucleotide pool so that oxidized 2′-deoxynucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs) cannot be used in DNA replication. Cancer cells require MTH1 to avoid incorporation of oxidized dNTPs into DNA that results in mutations and cell death. Inhibition of MTH1 eradicates cancer, validating MTH1 as an anticancer target. By overexpressing MTH1, cancer cells may mediate cancer growth and resist therapy. To date, there is unreliable evidence suggesting that MTH1 is increased in cancer cells, and available methods to measure MTH1 levels are indirect and semi-quantitative. Accurate measurement of MTH1 in disease-free tissues and malignant tumors of patients may be essential for determining if the protein is truly upregulated in cancers, and for the development and use of MTH1 inhibitors in cancer therapy. Here, we present a novel approach involving liquid chromatography–isotope-dilution tandem mass spectrometry to positively identify and accurately quantify MTH1 in human tissues. We produced full length ¹⁵N-labeled MTH1 and used it as an internal standard for the measurements. Following trypsin digestion, seven tryptic peptides of both MTH1 and ¹⁵N-MTH1 were identified by their full scan and product ion spectra. These peptides provided a statistically significant protein score that would unequivocally identify MTH1. Next, we identified and quantified MTH1 in human disease-free breast tissues and malignant breast tumors, and in four human cultured cell lines, three of which were cancer cells. Extreme expression of MTH1 in malignant breast tumors was observed, suggesting that cancer cells are addicted to MTH1 for their survival. The approach described is expected to be applicable to the measurement of MTH1 levels in malignant tumors vs. surrounding disease-free tissues in cancer patients. This attribute may help develop novel treatment strategies and MTH1 inhibitors as potential drugs, and guide therapies.     

Increased Expression of the dsRNA-Activated Protein Kinase PKR in Breast Cancer Promotes Sensitivity to Doxorubicin

It has been reported that the expression and activity of the interferon-inducible, dsRNA-dependent protein kinase, PKR, is increased in mammary carcinoma cell lines and primary tumor samples. To extend these findings and determine how PKR signaling may affect breast cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapy, we measured PKR expression by immunohistochemical staining of 538 cases of primary breast cancer and normal tissues. Significantly, PKR expression was elevated in ductal, lobular and squamous cell carcinomas or lymph node metastases but not in either benign tumor specimens or cases of inflammation compared to normal tissues. Furthermore, PKR expression was increased in precancerous stages of mammary cell hyperplasia and dysplasia compared to normal tissues, indicating that PKR expression may be upregulated by the process of tumorigenesis. To test the function of PKR in breast cancer, we generated MCF7, T-47D and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines with significantly reduced PKR expression by siRNA knockdown. Importantly, while knockdown of PKR expression had no effect on cell proliferation under normal growth conditions, MCF7, T-47D or MDA-MB-231 cells with reduced PKR expression or treated with a small molecule PKR inhibitor were significantly less sensitive to doxorubicin or H₂O₂-induced toxicity compared to control cells. In addition, the rate of eIF2α phosphorylation following treatment with doxorubicin was delayed in breast cancer cell lines with decreased PKR expression. Significantly, treatment of breast cancer lines with reduced PKR expression with either interferon-α, which increases PKR expression, or salubrinal, which increases eIF2α phosphorylation, restored doxorubicin sensitivity to normal levels. Taken together these results indicate that increased PKR expression in primary breast cancer tissues may serve as a biomarker for response to doxorubicin-containing chemotherapy and that future therapeutic approaches to promote PKR expression/activation and eIF2α phosphorylation may be beneficial for the treatment of breast cancer.     

N-Cadherin Promotes Adhesion Between Invasive Breast Cancer Cells and the Stroma

Calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules (cadherins) are involved in maintaining the epithelial structure of a number of tissues including the mammary gland. In breast and other tumor types, loss of E-cadherin expression has been seen in high grade tumors and correlates with increased invasiveness. Here we show high levels of expression of N-cadherin in the most invasive breast cancer cell lines which was inversely correlated with their expression of E-cadherin. A stromal cell line also expressed N-cadherin in accordance with its fibroblastic morphology. N-cadherin localized to areas of cell-cell contact in all cells that expressed it. Calcium-dependent intercellular adhesion of N-cadherin-expressing breast cancer and stromal cells was specifically inhibited by an anti N-cadherin monoclonal antibody. In addition, N-cadherin promoted the interaction of invasive breast cancer cells with mammary stromal cells: in contrast, E-cadherin expressing cell lines did not co-aggregate with stromal cells. The combined results suggest a functional role for N-cadherin in cohesion of breast tumor cells which, in addition promotes their interaction with the surrounding stromal cells, thereby facilitating invasion and metastasis.     

N-Cadherin Promotes Adhesion Between Invasive Breast Cancer Cells and the Stroma

Calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules (cadherins) are involved in maintaining the epithelial structure of a number of tissues including the mammary gland. In breast and other tumor types, loss of E-cadherin expression has been seen in high grade tumors and correlates with increased invasiveness. Here we show high levels of expression of N-cadherin in the most invasive breast cancer cell lines which was inversely correlated with their expression of E-cadherin. A stromal cell line also expressed N-cadherin in accordance with its fibroblastic morphology. N-cadherin localized to areas of cell-cell contact in all cells that expressed it. Calcium-dependent intercellular adhesion of N-cadherin-expressing breast cancer and stromal cells was specifically inhibited by an anti N-cadherin monoclonal antibody. In addition, N-cadherin promoted the interaction of invasive breast cancer cells with mammary stromal cells: in contrast, E-cadherin expressing cell lines did not co-aggregate with stromal cells. The combined results suggest a functional role for N-cadherin in cohesion of breast tumor cells which, in addition promotes their interaction with the surrounding stromal cells, thereby facilitating invasion and metastasis.     

Expression of Galectin-7 Is Induced in Breast Cancer Cells by Mutant p53

Galectin-7 was initially described as a marker of epithelial differentiation expressed in the stratified epithelium of various tissues. Like other members of the galectin family, its expression level is often significantly altered in cancer cells. In breast cancer, its expression is significantly augmented in aggressive molecular subtypes, most notably in estrogen receptor-negative tumors and in cell lines with a basal-like phenotype. Studies using experimental mouse models have further shown high expression of galectin-7 was sufficient to increase the metastatic behavior of poorly metastatic breast cancer cells, rendering them more resistant to apoptosis. This expression pattern in breast cancer cells is unexpected because galectin-7 was originally identified as a p53-induced gene. To address this paradox, we have examined the molecular mechanisms regulating galectin-7 in breast cancer cells. Our results showed that transfection of breast cancer cells with expression vectors encoding mutant p53 was sufficient to induce galectin-7 at both mRNA and protein levels. Doxorubicin treatment of breast cancer cells harboring a mutant p53 also induced galectin-7. This induction was specific since knockdown of endogenous mutant p53 inhibited doxorubicin-induced galectin-7 expression. The p53-induced galectin-7 expression in breast cancer cells correlated with increased NF-κB activity and was inhibited by NF-κB inhibitors, indicating that the ability of mutant p53 to induce galectin-7 was dependent on NF-κB activity. The implication of NF-κB was further supported by data showing that NF-κB bound to the endogenous galectin-7 promoter and that TNFα-induced galectin-7 expression was abolished by NF-κB inhibitors. Taken together, our data provide an explanation to the observed high galectin-7 expression levels in cancer cells and suggest that galectin-7 could be part of a common pathway used by mutant p53 to promote cancer progression.     

The anti-apoptotic protein lifeguard is expressed in breast cancer cells and tissues

Lifeguard (LFG) is an anti-apoptotic protein that inhibits Fas-mediated death in tumour cells. However, the molecular function of human LFG in the carcinogenesis of human breast cells is uncertain. We studied the expression and function of endogenous LFG in four breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, T-47D and HS 578T), a human breast epithelial cell line (HS 578Bst), and in healthy and cancerous breast tissues. Molecular (Western blot and RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical techniques were used to investigate the LFG expression. To investigate the breast cancer cell proliferation in the presence of Fas, we performed fluorescent cell viability assays. The possible association of Fas with LFG was analyzed by immunofluorescence microscopy. In this paper, we provide convincing evidence that LFG is overexpressed in several human breast cancer cell lines. More importantly, we found that the LFG expression correlates with high tumour grades in primary breast tumours. Finally, we demonstrated that Fas sensitivity is reduced in breast cancer cell lines expressing LFG. Our results indicated that LFG is strongly expressed in breast cancer epithelial cells. Moreover, the overexpression of LFG correlated with tumour grade and reduced Fas sensitivity. Our findings support the idea that LFG may have a role in the downregulation of apoptosis in breast cancer cells.