Inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis decrease the expression of the metalloproteases meprin α and MMP-7 in hormone-independent human breast cancer cells

Gail L. Matters, Andrea Manni, Judith S. Bond

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

Inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a key enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis, by the irreversible inhibitor α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) has been shown to decrease the invasiveness of metastatic human breast cancer cell lines. However, the mechanism by which DFMO acts to reduce invasiveness is unclear. Using the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-435, the effect of DFMO on metalloprotease gene expression was investigated. DFMO treatment decreases the expression of the metalloprotease meprin α, while concurrent treatment with DFMO and the polyamine putrescine partially restored meprin α expression levels. Expression of MMP-7 mRNA was reduced by DFMO, while MMPs-1, -2, -3, -14, and meprin β were unaffected. Treatment of cells with a second inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis, the S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC) inhibitor SAM486A, also resulted in a dosage dependent decrease in meprin α and MMP-7 mRNA. In addition, DFMO treatment decreased meprin α at the protein level by 2 days of treatment, and MMP-7 protein levels at 4 and 6 days. Previous studies have shown that DFMO treatment increases ERK phosphorylation and signaling through the MAP kinase pathway. The decrease in meprin α expression was reversed with the MEK inhibitor PD98059, demonstrating that MAP kinase signaling mediates the effect of DFMO and SAM486A. MDA-MB-435 cells treated with the meprin α inhibitor actinonin (5 nM) were less invasive in vitro, indicating that meprin α is mechanistically involved in invasion. The decrease in meprin α expression in DFMO and SAM486A-treated cells indicates a means by which these compounds can decrease the invasiveness of metastatic breast cancer cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)331-339
Number of pages9
JournalClinical and Experimental Metastasis
Volume22
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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