Overexpression of NOTCH-regulated ankyrin repeat protein is associated with breast cancer cell proliferation.
OBJECTIVE
NOTCH-regulated ankyrin repeat protein (NRARP) has been implicated in crosstalk between NOTCH and wingless-type mouse mammary tumor virus integration site (WNT) signals during development. Our study aimed to clarify its role in breast cancer cells.


METHODS
Public microarray data were used to analyze gene expression in human and rat breast cancer. A short interfering RNA was introduced into MCF7 and T47D human breast cancer cells for NRARP silencing. Gene expression was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
The NRARP transcript was commonly overexpressed in various rat mammary cancer models. In addition, a subset of human breast cancer also expressed high levels of NRARP transcript, which correlated positively with up-regulation of cell proliferation-related genes. Silencing of NRARP suppressed the growth of MCF7 and T47D cells and lowered the expression of cell cycle-related genes in MCF7 cells.


CONCLUSIONS
NRARP may stimulate cell proliferation in human breast cancer.
4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan. t_imaoka@nirs.go.jp.
Tatsuhiko
T
Imaoka
Tomomi
T
Okutani
Kazuhiro
K
Daino
Daisuke
D
Iizuka
Mayumi
M
Nishimura
Yoshiya
Y
Shimada
D000818:Animals; D017089:Ankyrin Repeat / Q000235:genetics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D059467:Transcriptome; D015854:Up-Regulation
D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C000588990:NRARP protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch
NOTCH-regulated ankyrin repeat protein; NRARP; breast cancer