Effects of vitamin D-binding protein-derived macrophage-activating factor on human breast cancer cells.
BACKGROUND
Searching for additional therapeutic tools to fight breast cancer, we investigated the effects of vitamin D-binding protein-derived macrophage activating factor (DBP-MAF, also known as GcMAF) on a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7).


METHODS
The effects of DBP-MAF on proliferation, morphology, vimentin expression and angiogenesis were studied by cell proliferation assay, phase-contrast microscopy, immunohistochemistry and western blotting, and chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay.


RESULTS
DBP-MAF inhibited human breast cancer cell proliferation and cancer cell-stimulated angiogenesis. MCF-7 cells treated with DBP-MAF predominantly grew in monolayer and appeared to be well adherent to each other and to the well surface. Exposure to DBP-MAF significantly reduced vimentin expression, indicating a reversal of the epithelial/mesenchymal transition, a hallmark of human breast cancer progression.


CONCLUSIONS
These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the known anticancer efficacy of DBP-MAF can be ascribed to different biological properties of the molecule that include inhibition of tumour-induced angiogenesis and direct inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, migration and metastatic potential.
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Forensic Medicine, Viale Morgagni 85, University of Firenze, Italy.
Stefania
S
Pacini
Tiziana
T
Punzi
Gabriele
G
Morucci
Massimo
M
Gulisano
Marco
M
Ruggiero
D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D049033:Chorioallantoic Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016215:Macrophage-Activating Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism; D014809:Vitamin D-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
D016215:Macrophage-Activating Factors; D014746:Vimentin; D014809:Vitamin D-Binding Protein; C101908:vitamin D-binding protein-macrophage activating factor