calcitriol and Triple-Negative-Breast-Neoplasms

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the possible role of IL-6 and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D)\ signaling in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line.\ Methods: TNBC cell line, HCC 1806, was treated with IL-6 and 1,25D for three and six days. Also, the role of vitamin\ D receptor (VDR) was studied by transfection of TNBC cell line with VDR gene and transfection efficiency was assessed\ using Human VDR enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Changes in E-cadherin gene expression were\ analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Also, changes in CD44+ cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.\ Finally, morphological changes were investigated by light microscopy after 6 days. Results: Treatment of HCC1806\ cells with IL-6 has no significant effect either on E-cadherin gene expression or CD44+ cells, (p > 0.05). However,\ E-cadherin gene expression was significantly up-regulated after treatment with 1,25D for 6 days, (p < 0.05). Also, CD44+\ cells were significantly reduced after treatment with 1,25D either for 3 or 6 days, (p < 0.05). Transfection of TNBC\ cell line with VDR gene significantly up-regulated VDR protein expression, (p < 0.05). In addition, overexpression of\ VDR in TNBC cells and treatment with 1,25D significantly up-regulated E-cadherin gene expression, (p < 0.05) and\ reduced CD44+ cells, (p < 0.05). Moreover, transfection with VDR and treatment with a combination of 1,25D and\ IL-6 significantly down-regulated E-cadherin gene expression and increased CD44+ cells compared with transfected\ cells with VDR treated with 1,25D alone, (p < 0.05). No significant morphological changes were observed in treated\ cells, 6 days post-treatment. Conclusion: The presence of IL-6 in the breast tumor microenvironment may impair the\ activity of vitamin D3 signaling, limiting its anti-tumor effects in TNBC.

Topics: Antigens, CD; Cadherins; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Female; Humans; Interleukin-6; Receptors, Calcitriol; Signal Transduction; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Microenvironment; Vitamin D; Vitamins