Abstract:

Objective · To explore the inhibitive effect of silencing the CD147 gene on the proliferation of triple negative breast cancer cells and relevant mechanisms. Methods · Normal human mammary epithelial cell line HMEC and three triple negative breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231, HCC70 and T4-2 were cultured in vitro. mRNA and protein expressions in cells were measured using realtime-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. A siRNA sequence targeting the coding region of human CD147 gene was designed and used to construct a recombinant lentivirus Lv-shRNA-CD147, which was used to infect the three breast cancer cell lines. The negative control group (Lv-NC infected group) and the noninfected cell control group (cell control group) were simultaneously used. The effects of silencing the CD147 gene were measured with real-time PCR and Western blotting. The proliferation and migration of cells were measured with MTT and Transwell assay, respectively. HCC70 cells were collected 72 h after viral infection and proteins related to proliferation, migration and apoptosis of cells (β-catenin, MMP2, MMP9, and Bax) were measured with Western blotting. Results · mRNA and protein expressions of CD147 were significantly higher in three breast cancer cell lines than in HMEC (P<0.01). The Lv-shRNA-CD147 infected group had lower mRNA and protein expressions of CD147, cell proliferation, and cell migration as compared with the Lv-NC infected group and the cell control group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). The Lv-shRNA-CD147 infected group had lower expressions of β-catenin, MMP2, and MMP9, and higher Bax expression in HCC70 cells 72h after viral infection as compared with the Lv-NC infected group and the cell control group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). Conclusion · Silencing the CD147 gene can inhibit the proliferation and migration of triple negative breast cancer cells.

Key words: triple negative breast cancer, CD147, gene silence, proliferation, migration