Heregulin-β1 promotes proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells by inducing stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1

Abstract

Objective To investigate the heregulin-β1 (HRG-β1)-induced expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) and the effect of its activity of SCD1 on the proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells MCF7 and SK-BR-3. Methods MCF7 and SK-BR-3 cells were treated with control (PBS) or HRG-β1 at different concentrations and for different times. Then RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of SCD1. The wound healing assay and Transwell assay were employed to measure the migration and invasion of MCF7 and SK-BR-3 cells treated with PBS, HRG-β1, A939572 and oleic acid (OA). Results HRG-β1 increased both SCD1 mRNA and protein levels in MCF7 and SK-BR-3 cells at a time-dose dependent manner. Compared with the control group, HRG-β1 promoted cell proliferation in MCF7 and SK-BR-3 cells (P < 0.01), while proliferation rate was decreased after A939572 treatment (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, HRG-β1 significantly increased the wound healing rates and invaded cell numbers of MCF7 and SK-BR-3 cells (P < 0.01). The wound healing rates and invaded cell numbers of both cell lines were significantly decreased after HRG-β1+A939572 treatment (P < 0.01). The addition of OA rescued the migration and invasion of both cell lines which were weakened by A939572 (P < 0.01). Conclusions HRG-β1 can up-regulate the expression of SCD1, and the protein partially mediates the effect of HRG-β1 in promoting the proliferation, migration and invasion in MCF7 and SK-BR-3 cells.

Keywords

• heregulin-β1
• stearoyl-coa desaturase-1
• breast cancer
• proliferation
• migration
• invasion