title: The alpha 3 beta 1 integrin is associated with mammary carcinoma cell metastasis, invasion, and gelatinase B (MMP-9) activity.
abstract: The alpha 3 beta 1 integrin is elevated in several types of metastatic tumor and has been associated with increased migration and invasion. Our analysis of a series of mammary carcinomas of different histotypes and their corresponding metastases demonstrated significantly increased expression of alpha 3 beta 1 in the tumor metastases. We therefore studied alpha 3 beta 1 expression of several human breast carcinoma cell lines and its association with the invasive phenotype. The MDA-MB-231 cell line expressed high levels of the beta1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 5, and alpha 6 integrin subunits along with moderate levels of the alpha v beta 3 integrin. This line was highly migratory and the most invasive using a chemo-invasion assay. In contrast, the other lines tested, MDA-MB-145, MCF-7, and SK-BR-3, showed lower migratory and invasive activity and reduced alpha 3 integrin subunit expression. Metalloproteases capable of degrading collagen IV are necessary for the invasive process. RT-PCR showed that MDA-MB-231 cells expressed MMP-9, but not MMP-2, gelatinase/collagenase IV. Gelatin zymography demonstrated that invading MDA-MB-231 cells released high levels of MMP-9 gelatinase activity. A direct role for this gelatinase in MDA-MB-231 cell invasion was confirmed by inhibition of invasion using the metalloprotease inhibitor Batimastat. Treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with a function-blocking anti-alpha 3 antibody strongly inhibited migration and invasion. This correlated with a marked reduction in MMP-9 activity produced by MDA-MB-231 cells, suggesting a role for alpha 3 beta 1 ligand binding in cell signaling and regulation of extracellular matrix degradation.
authors.affiliation: Modulo di Progressione Neoplastica, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mottolese
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghiorzo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buglioni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mortarini
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Noonan
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Natali
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002633:Chemotaxis; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D039201:Integrin alpha3beta1; D016023:Integrins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008024:Ligands; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D039201:Integrin alpha3beta1; D016023:Integrins; D008024:Ligands; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D013876:Thiophenes; D010649:Phenylalanine; D003094:Collagen; C080985:batimastat; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9