Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Medical Science) >

2026 , Vol. 46 >Issue 4: 442 - 450

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2026.04.004

Basic research

Effects of triclosan exposure on the invasion ability of triple-negative breast cancer cells

  • Tong Youhua ,
  • Guo Sinan ,
  • Nie Yu ,
  • Gao Yaxuan ,
  • Liu Shiyan ,
  • Zhang Haohao ,
  • Hou Yinghao ,
  • Zhi Hui
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  • Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China
Zhi Hui, E-mail: Zhi_hui01@hotmail.com.

Received date: 2025-06-17

  Accepted date: 2025-11-27

  Online published: 2026-04-28

Supported by

National Natural Science Foundation of China(21906122);Natural Science Research Project of Anhui Educational Committee(2024AH051899);National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for Undergraduates of Wannan Medical College(202310368008);Open Project of Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Pathology, Ministry of Education(2024jsz1010)

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Abstract

Objective ·To investigate the effect of triclosan (TCS) exposure on the progression of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and to explore the underlying mechanism. Methods ·Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to detect the half-maximal inhibitory concentration of TCS in the TNBC cell line MDA-MB-231 to screen the exposure concentrations of TCS. The effects of TCS on the migration and invasion abilities of MDA-MB-231 cells were detected by wound-healing assay and Transwell invasion assays, respectively. The effect of TCS on miR-21 expression in MDA-MB-231 cells was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The effects of TCS on the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins, including E-cadherin (E-cad) and vimentin in MDA-MB-231 cells, were detected by Western blotting. The effect of TCS exposure on the miR-21/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Meanwhile, miR-21 mimics were transfected into MDA-MB-231 cells to examine the effects of TCS exposure on the migration and invasion of the cells. Results ·According to the CCK-8 assay, the exposure concentrations of TCS were screened to be 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 μmol/L. Wound-healing assay and Transwell invasion assay both showed that exposure to 0.01, 0.1, and 1 μmol/L TCS enhanced the migration and invasion abilities of MDA-MB-231 cells (all P<0.05). qPCR results indicated that the expression level of miR-21 in TNBC cells was decreased after exposure to 0.01, 0.1, and 1 μmol/L TCS (all P<0.05). Western blotting results revealed that 0.1 and 1 μmol/L TCS downregulated the expression of the epithelial marker E-cad, and 0.01, 0.1, and 1 μmol/L TCS upregulated the expression of the mesenchymal marker vimentin (all P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting results demonstrated that exposure to 0.01, 0.1, and 1 μmol/L TCS increased the phosphorylation of STAT3 in a dose-dependent manner (all P<0.05). Upregulation of miR-21 by transfection with miR-21 mimics attenuated the promoting effect of TCS on the migration and invasion of TNBC cells (both P<0.05). Conclusion ·TCS exposure enhances the migration and invasion of TNBC cells via the miR-21/STAT3 signaling axis, suggesting that TCS exposure may exert a promoting effect on the progression of TNBC.

Key words： triclosan (TCS); triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC); invasion; miRNA-21; signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)

Cite this article

Tong Youhua , Guo Sinan , Nie Yu , Gao Yaxuan , Liu Shiyan , Zhang Haohao , Hou Yinghao , Zhi Hui . Effects of triclosan exposure on the invasion ability of triple-negative breast cancer cells[J]. Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Medical Science), 2026 , 46(4) : 442 -450 . DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2026.04.004

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