title: Prolactin Promotes Breast Cancer Cell Migration through Actin Cytoskeleton Remodeling.
abstract: The role of prolactin on breast cancer development and progression is debated. Breast cancer progression largely depends on cell movement and on the ability to remodel the actin cytoskeleton. In this process, actin-binding proteins are requested to achieve fibrillar actin de-polymerization and relocation at the cell membrane. Kinases such as focal adhesion kinase (FAK) are later required to form actin/vinculin-enriched structures called focal adhesion complexes, which mediate firm adhesion to the extracellular matrix. These controllers are regulated by c-Src, which forms multiprotein signaling complexes with membrane receptors and is regulated by a number of hormones, including -prolactin. We here show that breast cancer cells exposed to prolactin display an elevated c-Src expression and phosphorylation. In parallel, increased moesin and FAK expression and phosphorylation are found. These molecular changes are associated to relocation to the plasma membrane of cytoskeletal actin fibers and to increased horizontal cell movement. In conclusion, prolactin regulates actin remodeling and enhances breast cancer cell movement. This finding broadens the understanding of prolactin actions on breast cancer cells, highlighting new pathways that may be relevant to on breast cancer progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Laboratory of Structural and Molecular Gynecology (LIM58), Discipline of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Priscilla Ludovico
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Health Sciences Institute (ICS), Paulista University, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vinicius Cestari
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: do Amaral
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gabrielli
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Magdalena
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Montt Guevara
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mannella
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Structural and Molecular Gynecology (LIM58), Discipline of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Edmund Chada
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Baracat
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Structural and Molecular Gynecology (LIM58), Discipline of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Jose Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Simoncini
keywords: MCF-7; T47D; ZR75-1; actin cytoskeleton; breast cancer; cell migration; prolactin