title: 27-hydroxycholesterol induces the transition of MCF7 cells into a mesenchymal phenotype.
abstract: A decrease in the expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin, paralleling the loss of adherens junction complex, was observed in MCF7 cells exposed for longer than 48 h to 2 µM 27-hydroxycholesterol (27OHC), indicating an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Upon removal of 27OHC from the culture medium, the cells released by the exposure of 72 h to the oxysterol grew as loosely packed cell groups. In these cells, accumulation of E-cadherin and β-catenin in the cytoplasm and the prolonged expression of epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (EGFR2/neu) in the plasma membrane were observed, suggesting that the acquired phenotype was related to the expression of this tyrosine kinase-growth factor receptor. The results presented here are discussed on the basis of the claimed relationship between 27OHC, hypercholesterolemia, macrophage infiltration and therapy-resistant ERα+ breast cancer incidence.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Medicina Experimental, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago 8370251, Chile.
authors.forename: Cristian G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: María E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Epuñan
authors.forename: Luis E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Valladares
authors.forename: Walter D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Sierralta
mesh_terms: D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006888:Hydroxycholesterols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010641:Phenotype; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D006888:Hydroxycholesterols; D051176:beta Catenin; D004958:Estradiol; C076996:27-hydroxycholesterol