Reversal of cathepsin D routing modulation in MCF-7 breast cancer cells expressing antisense insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II).

We previously demonstrated that expression of IGF-II modulates the routing of cathepsin D in MCF-7 cells. In our present study, we transfected antisense IGF-II into IGF-II secreting MCF-7 cells to test the hypothesis that blocking IGF-II may reduce the secretion of cathepsin D in breast cancer cells. The concentration of IGF-II in media conditioned by the antisense clone was reduced to almost undetectable levels. Likewise, Northern blotting analysis revealed that IGF-II mRNA was nearly undetectable in the antisense transfected cells. Metabolic labeling experiments performed with 10 mM mannose 6-phosphate present in the medium to block reuptake of lysosomal enzymes demonstrated that cathepsin D secretion was dramatically reduced. Similarly, a significant reduction in cathepsin D was observed when conditioned media and cell extracts were examined by Western blotting after a 48 h incubation. No changes in cathepsin D mRNA in antisense cells were detected by Northern blot analysis. We conclude that endogenous IGF-II may modulate the routing of cathepsin D by interfering with receptor trafficking in MCF-7 cells, and that this modulation is reversible. Abnormally high levels of IGF-II may alter this homeostasis, conferring on breast cancer cells an advantageous mechanism that promotes rapid growth, and may facilitate metastasis.