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. 2021 Jul 21:8:1530-1537.
doi: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2021.07.012. eCollection 2021.

Inhibition of PKC/MEK pathway suppresses β1-integrin and mitigates breast cancer cells proliferation

Nahla E El-Ashmawy  1 , Enas A El-Zamarany  2 , Naglaa F Khedr  1 , Hend M Selim  1 , Eman G Khedr  1
Affiliations

Inhibition of PKC/MEK pathway suppresses β1-integrin and mitigates breast cancer cells proliferation

Nahla E El-Ashmawy et al. Toxicol Rep. .

Abstract

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and β1-integrin have been correlated with breast cancer, where both could enhance progression and metastasis. Protein kinase C (PKC) and MEK have played a vital role in breast cancer development. Our study was conducted to elucidate the effect of inhibition of E-prostanoid receptor 1 (EP1)/ PKC/ MEK/ β1-integrin pathway in mitigating breast cancer progression and to evaluate the role of the intermediate signals FOXC2, E2F1, NF-ҡB and survivin. MCF7 cells were treated with 17 -PT-PGE2, an EP1 agonist, for 24 h, and β1-integrin was measured. To MCF7 cells treated with 17-PT-PGE2, inhibitors of either EP1, MEK, PKC or NF-ҡB were added followed by measurement of β1-integrin gene expression and cell proliferation in each case. Addition of 17- PT-PGE2 to MCF7 cells showed enhancement of both cell proliferation, and cell cycle transition from G1 to S phase. In addition, activation of EP1 receptor increased β1-integrin expression. On the contrary, inhibition of EP1 receptor showed a decrease in the cell proliferation, β1-integrin expression and cells transition to S phase, but increased cell count in apoptotic phase. Selective inhibition of each of MEK, PKC, and NF-ҡB suppressed 17 -PT-PGE2-mediated β1-integrin expression as well as cell proliferation. Furthermore, FOXC2, phosphorylated NF-ҡB, E2F1, and survivin levels were upregulated with 17- PT-PGE2 and suppressed by MEK, PKC and NF-ҡB inhibitors. Targeting the biochemical mediators of PKC/MEK pathway may be of value in developing new chemical entities for cancer treatment.

Keywords: Breast cancer; E2F1; FOXC2; NF-ҡB; Prostaglandin E2; β1-integrin.

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Figures

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Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Cell cycle analysis of the studied groups. a: Control group, b: EP1 agonist, c: EP1 antagonist +EP1 agonist, d: MEK inhibitor+EP1 agonist, e: PKC inhibitor +EP1 agonist and f: NF-ҡB inhibitor+EP1 agonist. EP1: E prostanoid receptor 1, MEK: Mitogen activated protein kinase kinase, PKC: Protein kinase C, NF-ҡB: Nuclear factor kappa -light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells. Apop: Apoptosis ; G0/G1: Gap phase G0 and G1 ; S: Synthesis phase; G2/M: Gap phase 2 and Mitosis phase. PIPE-A: Propidium Iodide Phycoerythrin Area.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Effect of treatments on FOXC2 level in breast cancer cell line. Data are presented as mean ± SD. a: Significant versus control group. b: Significant versus EP1 agonist group. n = 6 replicates. EP1: E prostanoid receptor 1, MEK: Mitogen activated protein kinase kinase, PKC: Protein kinase C, NF-ҡB: Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, FOXC2: Forkhead box protein C2.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Effect of treatments on E2F1 level in breast cancer cell line. Data are presented as mean ± SD. a: Significant versus control group. b: Significant versus EP1 agonist group. n = 6 replicates. EP1: E prostanoid receptor 1, MEK: Mitogen activated protein kinase kinase, Protein kinase C, NF-ҡB: Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, E2F1: E2F Transcription Factor 1.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Effect of treatments on total and phosphorylated NF-ҡB p65 level in breast cancer cell line. Data are presented as mean±SD. a: Significant versus control group. b: Significant versus EP1 agonist group. n = 6 replicates. EP1: E prostanoid receptor 1, MEK: Mitogen activated protein kinase kinase, PKC: Protein kinase C, NF-ҡB: Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Effect of treatments on Survivin level in breast cancer cell line. Data are presented as mean ± SD. a: Significant versus control group. b: Significant versus EP1 agonist group. n = 6 replicates. EP1: E prostanoid receptor 1, MEK: Mitogen activated protein kinase kinase, PKC: Protein kinase C, NF-ҡB: Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Effect of treatments on β1- integrin gene expression in breast cancer cell line. Data are presented as mean ± SD. a: Significant versus control group. b: Significant versus EP1 agonist group. n = 6 replicates. EP1: E prostanoid receptor 1, MEK: Mitogen activated protein kinase kinase, PKC: Protein kinase C, NF-ҡB: nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells.
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