Exogenous expression of UHRF1 promotes proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer cells

Abstract

In the present study, we investigated the role of UHRF1 (ubiquitin-like protein containing PHD and RING finger domains 1) in proliferation, invasion and migration of breast cancer cells, and the potential mechanisms were also explored. Cell proliferation was examined by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay; cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were evaluated using flow cytometry; protein expression was determined by western blotting; angiogenesis of xenografts was assessed by microvessel density (MVD); cell invasion was measured using transwell chamber; cell migration was determined by wound scratching assay. Our results demonstrated that UHRF1 transfection conferred serum independence to MDA-MB-231 cells, G 1 phase shortage and apoptosis suppression, accompanied with an increased expression of cyclin D 1 and decreased expression of Bax. Significant pro-invasion and pro-migration activity was observed, with no obvious effect on the expression of PTEN and maspin. Co-expression of the UHRF1/PTEN or UHRF1/maspin degraded the role of UHRF1 in regulating invasion and migration. UHRF1 induced growth of MDA-MB-231 cells by promoting tumor vessel formation in vivo. In conclusion, UHRF1 promoted the proliferation of breast cancer cells by apoptosis inhibition, G 1 phase shortage and promotion of tumor vessel formation, and pro-invasion and pro-migration activity was also observed by interacting with PTEN and maspin. Thus, UHRF1 may serve as a new therapy target for breast cancer.