[Correlation of MUC1 expression to adhesion of breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231].
OBJECTIVE
Recent researches found that an abundant production of mucin protein well correlates with tumor cell metastasis. This study was to investigate inhibitory effect of benzyl-alpha-GalNAc on production of mucin 1 (MUC1), and on adhesion and invasion of breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231.


METHODS
MDA-MB-231 cells were incubated with benzyl-alpha-GalNAc, expression of MUC1 was detected by immunohistochemistry, adhesive ability of MDA-MB-231 cells to artificial basement membrane Matrigel was measured by MTT assay. Gelatin zymography was performed to detect the secretion changes of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9.


RESULTS
Compared with control cells, the tumor cells deglycosylated by benzyl-alpha-GalNAc showed lower expression of MUC1 (P < 0.05), and less adhesion to the Matrigel (P< 0.01), the secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9 suppressed (P< 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of MUC1 correlates to adhesion and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells, benzyl-alpha-GalNAc may weaken adhesion and type IV collagenase-secreting activity of MDA-MB-231 cells by inhibiting MUC1.
Lu
Li
L
Department of Pathophysiology, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing 400 016, P.R. China.
Deng
Hua-Yu
HY
Fan
Wei-Ke
WK
D000116:Acetylgalactosamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001593:Benzyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness
D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D018396:Mucin-1; C080739:benzyl-alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D000116:Acetylgalactosamine