Interleukin-18 induces transferrin expression in breast cancer cell line MCF-7.
Interleukin-18 (IL-18) has recently been shown to have a pro-cancer effect in various cancers. Increased serum levels of both IL-18 and transferrin in cancer patients are correlated with its malignancy. However, the relationship between transferrin and IL-18 is not well understood. Here, we show that exogenous transferrin enhanced breast cancer cell proliferation and the proliferation rate was reduced when endogenous transferrin expression was inhibited by transferrin siRNA. The expression of endogenous transferrin was found to be regulated by IL-18. Furthermore, we found that the MAPK pathway is involved in IL-18-induced transferrin production. In conclusion, IL-18 is suggested as an inducer of endogenous transferrin expression in breast cancer cells.
Park
Sunyoung
S
Department of Life Science, Sookmyung Women's University, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Yoon
Sun Young
SY
Kim
Kyung-Eun
KE
Lee
Ha Reum
HR
Hur
Dae Young
DY
Song
Hyunkeun
H
Kim
Daejin
D
Bang
Sa Ik
SI
Cho
Dae-Ho
DH
D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D034622:RNA Interference; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014168:Transferrin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
D005419:Flavonoids; D020382:Interleukin-18; D014168:Transferrin; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one