Gene expression of the invasive phenotype of TNF-alpha-treated MCF-7 cells.
OBJECTIVE
TNF-alpha secreted by tumor cells and macrophages that have infiltrated into the micro-environment of a tumor may promote the metastasis of a variety of malignant cancers, including breast cancer. The present study was designed to detect gene expression changes in metastatic MCF-7 cells treated with a low dose of TNF-alpha (20ng/mL), and to further explore the mechanisms by which TNF-alpha can contribute to metastasis.


METHODS
Transwell assays were performed to evaluate the invasive phenotype of MCF-7 cells. Samples for cDNA array analysis were collected 3h and 24h after pre-treatment with TNF-alpha and changes in gene expression were quantitated.


RESULTS
The invasive phenotype of MCF-7 cells was enhanced by the exposure of MCF-7 cells to a low dose of TNF-alpha. Gene expression profiles of 39 genes significantly increased or decreased after treatment with TNF-alpha, 6 of which were genes not previously associated with regulation by TNF-alpha. Genes to promote metastasis, as well as to inhibit metastasis, were identified with some changes being time dependent.


CONCLUSIONS
TNF-alpha can enhance the invasive capacity of MCF-7 cells by affecting the expression of a group of genes that have roles in various steps of metastasis. Mechanistic insights into the role of TNF-alpha in tumor cell metastasis are discussed.
Yin
Yongmei
Y
Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, PR China.
Chen
Xiaofeng
X
Shu
Yongqian
Y
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000235:genetics; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010641:Phenotype; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha