Docosahexaenoic Acid Downregulates EGF-Induced Urokinase Plasminogen Activator and Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 Expression by Inactivating EGFR/ErbB2 Signaling in SK-BR3 Breast Cancer Cells

Nutr Cancer. 2015;67(5):771-82. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2015.1037961. Epub 2015 May 13.

Abstract

Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) play crucial roles in tumor metastasis. Despite the well-known anticancer role of docosa-hexaenoic acid (DHA), its specific effect on ErbB2-mediated breast cancer metastasis is not fully clarified. In this study, we investigated the effect of DHA on epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced uPA and MMP-9 activity, expression and cell invasion in SK-BR3 breast cancer cells and the possible mechanisms involved. The results showed that EGF (40 ng/ml) induced uPA and MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression, enzyme activity, and 100 μM DHA significantly inhibited EGF-induced uPA and MMP-9 mRNA, protein expression, enzyme activity, cell migration, and cell invasion. EGF increased protein expression and phosphorylation of EGF receptor (EGFR) and ErbB2 as well as of JNK2, ERK1/2, and Akt, and these changes were attenuated by DHA pretreatment. AG1478, an inhibitor of EGFR, also attenuated EGF-induced activation of EGFR, JNK2, ERK1/2, and Akt. Knocked down ErbB2 expression resulted in a similar inhibition of uPA and MMP-9 expression as noted by DHA and AG1478. Taken together, these results suggest that suppression of EGF-induced metastasis by DHA is likely through an inhibition of EGFR and ErbB2 protein expression and the downstream target uPA and MMP-9 activation in SK-BR3 human breast cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Western
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / pharmacology*
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
  • Humans
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / metabolism*
  • RNA / isolation & purification
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / metabolism*

Substances

  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • RNA
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator
  • MMP9 protein, human
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9