Abstract
Interleukin-18 (IL-18) has recently been shown to have a pro-cancer effect in various cancers. Increased serum levels of both IL-18 and transferrin in cancer patients are correlated with its malignancy. However, the relationship between transferrin and IL-18 is not well understood. Here, we show that exogenous transferrin enhanced breast cancer cell proliferation and the proliferation rate was reduced when endogenous transferrin expression was inhibited by transferrin siRNA. The expression of endogenous transferrin was found to be regulated by IL-18. Furthermore, we found that the MAPK pathway is involved in IL-18-induced transferrin production. In conclusion, IL-18 is suggested as an inducer of endogenous transferrin expression in breast cancer cells.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Blotting, Western
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Breast Neoplasms / genetics
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Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
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Breast Neoplasms / pathology
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
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Female
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Flavonoids / pharmacology
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Flow Cytometry
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
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Humans
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Interleukin-18 / pharmacology*
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MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors
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RNA Interference
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Transferrin / genetics
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Transferrin / metabolism
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Transferrin / pharmacology*
Substances
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Flavonoids
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Interleukin-18
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Transferrin
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
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2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one