Affiliations: [a] Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China | [b] Department of Breast Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Guiyang Medical College, Guiyang, Guizhou, China | [c] Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Xiaoqin Yang, Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guoxue Street 37#, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China. Tel.: +86 18980605792; E-mail:laurayang1977@hotmail.com
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Overexpression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase
inducer (EMMPRIN) or cluster of differentiation 147 (CD147), a glycoprotein
enriched on the plasma membrane of tumor cells, promotes proliferation,
invasion, metastasis, and survival of malignant tumor cells. In this study,
we sought to examine the expression of EMMPRIN in breast tumors, and to
identify the potential roles of EMMPRIN on breast cancer cells. METHODS: EMMPRIN expression in breast cancer tissues was assessed
by immunohistochemistry. We used a lentivirus vector-based RNA interference
(RNAi) approach expressing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) to knockdown EMMPRIN
gene in breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7. In vitro, Cell proliferative,
invasive potential were determined by Cell Counting Kit (CCK-8), cell cycle
analysis and matrigel invasion assay, respectively. In vivo, tumorigenicity was
monitored by inoculating tumor cells into breast fat pad of female nude
mice. RESULTS: EMMPRIN was over-expressed in breast tumors and breast
cancer cell lines. Down-regulation of EMMPRIN by lentivirus vector-based
RNAi led to decreased cell proliferative, decreased matrigel invasion in vitro, and
attenuated tumor formation in vivo. CONCLUSION: High expression of EMMPRIN plays a crucial role in
breast cancer cell proliferation, matrigel invasion and tumor formation.
Keywords: EMMPRIN, MMP-9, breast cancer, RNA interference (RNAi), short hairpin RNA (shRNA), lentivirus
