The effects of activin A on the migration of human breast cancer cells and neutrophils and their migratory interaction

Dongxue Xie; Zhonghui Liu; Jiandong Wu; Wenfang Feng; Ke Yang; Jixian Deng; Ganghong Tian; Susy Santos; Xueling Cui; Francis Lin

doi:10.1016/j.yexcr.2017.05.003

The effects of activin A on the migration of human breast cancer cells and neutrophils and their migratory interaction

Exp Cell Res. 2017 Aug 1;357(1):107-115. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2017.05.003. Epub 2017 May 4.

Authors

Dongxue Xie¹, Zhonghui Liu², Jiandong Wu³, Wenfang Feng⁴, Ke Yang⁵, Jixian Deng⁶, Ganghong Tian⁶, Susy Santos⁷, Xueling Cui⁸, Francis Lin⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Genetics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N2.
² Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China.
³ Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N2.
⁴ Department of Genetics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China.
⁵ Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N2; Institute of Applied Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, PR China.
⁶ National Research Council, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3B 1Y6.
⁷ Victoria General Hospital and River Heights/Fort Garry Community areas, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
⁸ Department of Genetics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N2. Electronic address: cxl@jlu.edu.cn.
⁹ Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N2. Electronic address: flin@physics.umanitoba.ca.

PMID: 28479070
DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2017.05.003

Abstract

Activin A belongs to the superfamily of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) and is a critical regulatory cytokine in breast cancer and inflammation. However, the role of activin A in migration of breast cancer cells and immune cells was not well characterized. Here, a microfluidic device was used to examine the effect of activin A on the migration of human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 cells and human blood neutrophils as well as their migratory interaction. We found that activin A promoted the basal migration but impaired epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced migration of breast cancer cells. By contrast, activin A reduced neutrophil chemotaxis and transendothelial migration to N-Formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP). Finally, activin A promoted neutrophil chemotaxis to the supernatant from breast cancer cell culture. Collectively, our study revealed the different roles of activin A in regulating the migration of breast cancer cells and neutrophils and their migratory interaction. These findings suggested the potential of activin A as a therapeutic target for inflammation and breast cancers.

Keywords: Activin A; Breast cancer cells; Microfluidic device; Migration; Neutrophils.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Activins / metabolism*
Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
Cell Line, Tumor
Cell Movement / physiology*
Humans
Inflammation / metabolism
Neutrophils / cytology
Neutrophils / metabolism*
Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism

Substances

Transforming Growth Factor beta
activin A
Activins