李伯和, 袁 磊
(漯河醫學高等專科學校,河南 漯河 462002)
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地高辛對缺氧誘導的乳腺癌細胞上皮間質轉化和侵襲的影響*
李伯和,袁磊△
(漯河醫學高等專科學校,河南 漯河 462002)
[摘要]目的: 本研究旨在探究地高辛對缺氧誘導乳腺癌細胞上皮間質轉化、遷移和侵襲能力的影響,并探討其分子機制。方法:選取人乳腺癌MCF-7細胞作為研究對象,采用CoCl2模擬化學缺氧條件,采用細胞劃痕實驗測量細胞遷移率,采用Transwell侵襲實驗檢測細胞侵襲力,采用Western blot方法檢測人乳腺癌MCF-7細胞缺氧誘導因子-1α(HIF-1α)、Snail、E-cadherin和vimentin蛋白表達的變化。結果:缺氧使MCF-7細胞從多角形上皮形態轉變成梭形間質細胞形態,細胞間隙增大,而在地高辛作用下缺氧的MCF-7細胞未發生明顯的上皮間質轉化。細胞劃痕實驗和Transwell侵襲實驗結果顯示,經CoCl2處理的MCF-7細胞的遷移和侵襲能力均顯著增強(P<0.01),地高辛可抑制CoCl2誘導的細胞遷移和侵襲(P<0.01)。與control組相比,CoCl2組細胞的HIF-1α、Snail和vimentin蛋白表達水平顯著升高(P<0.01),E-cadherin的蛋白表達水平顯著降低(P<0.01);CoCl2+digoxin組細胞的HIF-1α、E-cadherin和vimentin蛋白表達水平與control組相比差異均無統計學顯著性,Snail蛋白表達水平雖略高于control組(P<0.05),但與CoCl2組細胞相比顯著降低(P<0.01)。結論:地高辛可通過下調HIF-1α和Snail蛋白表達抑制缺氧誘導的MCF-7細胞上皮間質轉化和侵襲。
[關鍵詞]地高辛; 上皮間質轉化; 缺氧誘導因子-1α; 細胞侵襲; MCF-7細胞
在實體腫瘤的發生發展過程中,由于腫瘤細胞的快速增殖以及腫瘤組織自身血供不足,導致實體腫瘤組織內部普遍處于缺氧狀態[1]。長期處于缺氧環境會促使腫瘤細胞外基質的結構發生改變、細胞間黏附作用下降、細胞運動性和侵襲性增強[2]。缺氧誘導因子-1α(hypoxia inducible factor-1α,HIF-1α)是廣泛表達于脊椎動物細胞內的一種調控缺氧應答的轉錄因子[3]。在缺氧狀態下,腫瘤細胞高表達HIF-1α,參與腫瘤細胞的存活、增殖、侵襲和轉移、放化療耐藥等過程[4-5]。地高辛(digoxin)是一種從毛花洋地黃中提純制得的強心苷,可選擇性與心肌細胞膜Na+/K+-ATP酶結合而抑制其活性,用于治療充血性心力衰竭和某些室上性心律失常。近年來越來越多的證據顯示,地高辛對多種腫瘤具有抑制作用[6-7]。本研究以人乳腺癌MCF-7細胞為研究對象,探究地高辛對CoCl2誘導的MCF-7遷移和侵襲的影響及其分子生物學機制。
材料和方法
1材料
人乳腺癌MCF-7細胞由本校分子醫學實驗中心提供。胎牛血清(fetal bovine serum,FBS)和RPMI—1640培養基購自HyClone;地高辛(digoxin)、氯化鈷(CoCl2)和4’,6-二脒基-2-苯基吲哚(4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole,DAPI)購自Sigma;E-cadherin、vimentin、HIF-1α、Snail和β-actin抗體購自Santa Cruz;Transwell小室購自Corning。
2方法
2.1細胞培養與實驗分組人乳腺癌MCF-7細胞用含10% FBS的RPMI-1640培養基,置于37 ℃、5% CO2培養箱中培養。待細胞匯合度達到80%后,將細胞隨機分為3組:(1)對照(control)組:將細胞置于無血清RPMI-1640培養基中培養24 h;(2)CoCl2組:將細胞置于含有200 μmol/L CoCl2的無血清RPMI-1640培養基中培養24 h;(3)CoCl2+digoxin組:將細胞置于含有200 μmol/L CoCl2和100 nmol/L地高辛的無血清RPMI-1640培養基中培養24 h。倒置相差顯微鏡下觀察細胞形態變化。
2.2細胞劃痕實驗取對數生長期細胞以每孔1×106個細胞接種于6孔板,置于37 ℃、5% CO2細胞培養箱中培養,待細胞長到融合成單層狀態時,將細胞置于無血清培養基中培養24 h,用無菌的100 μL移液器槍頭在底部劃線,吸去細胞培養液,用PBS沖洗細胞3次,按上述實驗分組分別加入相應的培養基,置于37 ℃、5% CO2細胞培養箱中培養,在0和24 h用倒置顯微鏡進行拍照,用ImageJ軟件測量劃痕面積,計算平均遷移距離(S),每孔測量5處,取平均值,每組設3復孔。遷移率(migration rate,MR;%)=S實驗組/S對照組×100%。
2.3Transwell侵襲實驗將Matrigel基質膠與RPMI-1640培養基按1∶6稀釋,取50 μL均勻鋪到Transwell小室上室內,將小室放入24孔板中,37 ℃恒溫孵育3 h使其成凝膠狀。取對數生長期細胞,按上述實驗分組,用配置好的各實驗組培養基制備2.5×108/L的細胞懸液,取200 μL加入上室內,在24孔板中加入600 μL含10% FBS的RPMI-1640培養基,置于37 ℃、5% CO2細胞培養箱中培養24 h。取出小室,用棉簽擦去上室內的細胞,經4%多聚甲醛固定和DAPI染色后,于熒光顯微鏡下取5個視野拍照計數,取平均值,每組設3復孔。侵襲率(invasion rate,IR;%)=侵襲細胞數實驗組/侵襲細胞數對照組×100%。
2.4Western blot檢測蛋白水平裂解各組細胞提取總蛋白,用BCA法定量后,進行SDS-PAGE電泳并轉移至PVDF膜。封閉液(5% BSA/TBST)封閉1 h,加入Ⅰ抗(1∶1 000稀釋),4 ℃孵育過夜,TBST洗膜3次,加入Ⅱ抗(1∶1 000稀釋)室溫下孵育1 h,TBST洗膜3次,加入ECL進行發光反應,暗室X膠片顯影,膠片用凝膠成像系統攜帶的白色光源拍照,用ImageJ軟件測定各蛋白條帶灰度值。
3統計學處理
用SPSS 16.0統計軟件進行分析。數據均采用均數±標準差(mean±SD)表示,多組間比較采用單因素方差分析(one-way ANOVA),并用Bonferroni校正的t檢驗進行組間兩兩比較。以P<0.05為差異有統計學顯著性。
結果
1地高辛抑制CoCl2誘導的MCF-7細胞上皮間質轉化(epithelial-mesenchymal transiton,EMT)
在倒置相差顯微鏡下可見,對照組細胞呈多角形上皮形態, 細胞之間緊密相接。經200 μmol/L CoCl2作用24 h后,細胞形態轉變為間質細胞形態,表現為細胞形態拉長呈梭形,細胞間隙增大。CoCl2+digoxin組細胞依然呈上皮形態,未發生明顯的EMT,見圖1。
2地高辛抑制CoCl2誘導的MCF-7細胞遷移
細胞劃痕實驗結果顯示,CoCl2組細胞遷移率為155.97%±10.43%,顯著高于control組(P<0.01);CoCl2+digoxin組細胞遷移率為113.96%±9.06%,與control組相比無統計學差異,這表明地高辛可抑制CoCl2誘導的細胞遷移,見圖2。
3地高辛抑制CoCl2誘導的MCF-7細胞侵襲
Transwell實驗結果顯示,CoCl2組細胞侵襲率為233.80%±15.49%,顯著高于control組(P<0.01);CoCl2+digoxin組細胞侵襲率為112.68%±11.27%,與control組相比差異無統計學顯著性,這表明地高辛可抑制CoCl2誘導的細胞侵襲,見圖3。
4CoCl2對HIF-1α、Snail、E-cadherin和vimentin蛋白表達的影響
Western blot結果顯示,與control組相比,CoCl2組細胞HIF-1α、Snail和vimentin蛋白表達水平顯著升高(P<0.01),E-cadherin蛋白表達水平顯著降低(P<0.01);CoCl2+digoxin組細胞HIF-1α、E-cad-herin和vimentin蛋白表達水平均與control組相比差異無統計學顯著性, Snail蛋白表達水平雖略高于control組(P<0.05),但與CoCl2組細胞相比顯著降低(P<0.01),見圖4、5。

Figure 1.Digoxin inhibited CoCl2-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in MCF-7 cells.
圖1地高辛抑制CoCl2誘導的MCF-7細胞上皮間質轉化

Figure 2.Digoxin inhibited CoCl2-induced migration of MCF-7 cells. Mean±SD.n=3.**P<0.01vscontrol group.
圖2地高辛抑制CoCl2誘導的MCF-7細胞遷移
討論
缺氧在腫瘤的遷移侵襲過程中發揮著重要作用,其中的一個重要機制就是腫瘤細胞發生EMT[8]。EMT是指細胞通過去分化由多邊形上皮樣形態轉變為梭形間葉性細胞形態,獲得更具運動能力表型的過程。本研究采用CoCl2處理MCF-7細胞模擬缺氧,導致MCF-7細胞發生EMT,而地高辛可顯著抑制CoCl2誘導的EMT,如圖1所示。缺氧也使得MCF-7細胞的遷移和侵襲能力均顯著增強,該作用也同樣被地高辛所阻斷。以上結果表明,地高辛對缺氧所導致的MCF-7細胞侵襲能力的增強具有顯著的抑制作用。
EMT的一個主要特征為E-cadherin表達減少。E-cadherin是一種鈣依賴性細胞黏附分子,在維持正常上皮細胞形態和細胞極性中發揮重要作用[9]。

Figure 3.Digoxin inhibited CoCl2-induced invasion of MCF-7 cells. Mean±SD.n=3.**P<0.01vscontrol group.
圖3地高辛抑制CoCl2誘導的MCF-7細胞侵襲

Figure 4.The effect of digoxin on the protein levels of E-cadhe-rin and vimentin in the MCF-7 cells. Mean±SD.n=3.**P<0.01vscontrol group.
圖4地高辛對MCF-7細胞E-cadherin和vimentin蛋白水平的影響
EMT的另一個主要特征為以細胞角蛋白為主細胞骨架轉化為以vimentin為主的細胞骨架[10]。vimentin是中間絲蛋白的一種,與微管和肌動蛋白微細絲一起組成細胞骨架。本研究結果顯示,缺氧可使MCF-7細胞E-cadherin蛋白表達水平顯著降低,vimentin蛋白表達水平顯著升高,而地高辛可阻斷缺氧對MCF-7細胞E-cadherin蛋白和vimentin蛋白表達的影響。

Figure 5.The effect of digoxin on the protein levels of HIF-1α and Snail in the MCF-7 cells. Mean±SD.n=3.**P<0.01vscontrol group;##P<0.01vsCoCl2group.
圖5地高辛對MCF-7細胞HIF-1α和Snail蛋白水平的影響
為探究地高辛抑制缺氧誘導EMT的機制,我們觀察了地高辛對缺氧條件下MCF-7細胞Snail蛋白表達水平的影響。Snail屬轉錄因子Snail家族成員,該家族包括Snail1(Snail)、Snail2(Slug)和Snail3(Smuc),其羧基末端高度保守,含有4~6個鋅指結構,其中Snail羧基末端含有4個鋅指結構。Snail可特異性地與E-cadherin啟動子中的E-box作用元件相結合而抑制E-cadherin蛋白的表達[11],同時Snail也可上調vimentin蛋白表達[12],在調控EMT過程中發揮著關鍵性作用[13]。本研究發現缺氧可使MCF-7細胞Snail蛋白表達水平顯著升高,該作用可被地高辛抑制。
HIF-1也是缺氧誘導腫瘤細胞發生EMT的重要因子[8, 14]。HIF-1是由HIF-1α和HIF-1β兩個亞單位組成的異源二聚體。HIF-1α是HIF-1的功能亞基,由826個氨基酸殘基構成,其C端有一個富含脯氨酸-絲氨酸-蘇氨酸(Pro/Ser/Thr)的氧依賴降解結構域(oxygen-dependent degradation domain,ODD)。在常氧條件下,HIF-1α的ODD中Pro402和Pro564被脯氨酸羥化酶結構域蛋白(prolyl hydroxylase domain protein,PHD)羥化,被羥化的HIF-1α與腫瘤抑制蛋白(von Hippel-Lindau syndrome protein,pVHL)結合后經泛素-蛋白酶體途徑降解。缺氧條件下PHD失活,HIF-1α因不能被羥基化而降解受阻,HIF-1α與HIF-1β在核內形成二聚體HIF-1,HIF-1與靶基因啟動子或增強子的缺氧反應元件(hypoxia response element,HRE)結合從而調節其轉錄表達。HIF-1可直接上調Snail基因表達[15]。Wong等[16]在人三陰乳腺癌細胞MDA-MB-231中發現地高辛可在轉錄水平顯著抑制缺氧誘導的HIF-1α表達。與此相一致,本研究結果顯示,地高辛可顯著下調缺氧誘導的HIF-1α蛋白表達。
綜上所述,缺氧可通過富集HIF-1α上調Snail蛋白表達,導致MCF-7細胞發生EMT,使其遷移和侵襲能力顯著增強。地高辛則可通過下調HIF-1α和Snail蛋白表達抑制缺氧誘導的MCF-7細胞上皮間質轉化和侵襲。
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(責任編輯: 林白霜, 羅森)
Effect of digoxin on hypoxia-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition and invasion in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells
LI Bai-he, YUAN Lei
(LuoheMedicalCollege,Luohe462002,China.E-mail:fzyx_yl@163.com)
[ABSTRACT]AIM: To investigate the effect of digoxin on hypoxia-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration and invasion in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells. METHODS: MCF-7 cells were treated in vitro with a chemical hypoxia inducer cobalt chloride (CoCl2) to imitate hypoxia. Cell migration was observed by wound healing assay, and cell invasion was measured by Transwell invasion assay. The protein levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), Snail, E-cadherin and vimentin in MCF-7 cells were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Digoxin inhibited CoCl2-induced EMT and reversed the mesenchymal phenotype. CoCl2 enhanced the abilities of migration and invasion (P<0.01), significantly decreased the expression of E-cadherin and increased the expression of HIF-1α, Snail and vimentin (P<0.01), but these effects were blocked by digoxin. CONCLUSION: Digoxin inhibits CoCl2-induced EMT and invasion most likely via HIF1-α-Snail signaling pathway.
[KEY WORDS]Digoxin; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α; Cell invasion; MCF-7 cells
[文章編號]1000- 4718(2016)05- 0852- 05
[收稿日期]2015- 11- 13[修回日期] 2015- 12- 28
*[基金項目]河南省科技廳科技發展計劃項目(No. 142102310466);漯河醫學高等專科學校自然科學研究計劃項目(No. 2014-S-LMC09)
通訊作者△Tel: 0395-2969424; E-mail: fzyx_yl@163.com
[中圖分類號]R737.9; R730.23
[文獻標志碼]A
doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000- 4718.2016.05.014
雜志網址: http://www.cjpp.net