Relationship between moesin expression and breast cancer metastasis

Abstract

Objective To explore the internal relationship between moesin expression and breast cancer metastasis. Methods Immunohistochemistry(IHC),RT-PCR and Western blot were`used to identify moesin expression in breast cancer tissue samples and a series of human breast cancer cell lines with different metastatic potentials.RNAi technique combined with invasion and motility assay in vitro were also used to reveal the interrelationship between moesin deficiency and invasion and motility ability of breast cancer cells.Results IHC analysis showed that moesin were mainly distributed on the cell membrane and cytoplasm.Its expression was higher in metastatic breast cancer tissue samples than in non-metastatic ones(P=0.001,χ2=17.536).Western blot results revealed positive correlation between moesin expression and metastatic potential of breast cancer cells.The results of Transwell experiment displayed that moesin expression silencing remarkably inhibited invasion and motility ability of breast cancer cells,especially the cells with high metastatic potential.After moesin expression,the levels of MTDH mRNA and nm-23mRNA in breast cancer cells(P0.05)significantly decreased,while vimentin expression increased,and the expressions of E-cadherin and MMP-9decreased. Conclusions Moesin over-expression presents a positive correlation to breast cancer metastatic potential.Moesin may participate in the process of invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells through influencing MTDH and nm-23,enhancing epithelial mesenchymal transition and increasing MMP-9secretion.