Role of Neogenin in Regulating Proliferation and Apoptosis in Breast Cancer

Abstract

In our former study we have published that the expression of Neogenin wasreduced in both breast cancer cells and breast cancer tissues. The aim of this study was toexplore the role of Neogenin in regulating proliferation and apoptosis in breast cancer. Firstly,Neogenin expression in MDA-MB-231 cells was up-regulated by usingpcDNA3.1-eGFP-Neogenin plasmids. The results of transfection were detected by fluorescentmicroscope observation, real-time PCR test and western blot. Then the proliferation andapoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells after Neogenin being up-regulated were tested by usingCCK8 assay, flow cytometry assay and TUNEL staining. CCK8 results showed thatMDA-MB-231 cells proliferated more quickly after transfected bypcDNA3.1-eGFP-Neogenin while compared with pcDNA3.1-eGFP and MDA-MB-231groups (P<0.01). Flow cytometry assay showed that there were fewer cells in S phase of cellcycle in pcDNA3.1-eGFP-Neogenin group and more cells in G0/G1 phase while comparedwith other two groups(P<0.05).TUNEL test showed that the apoptosis rate inpcDNA3.1-eGFP-Neogenin group was significantly higher than other two groups(P<0.05).We found that up-regulating Neogenin expression would inhibit proliferation and promoteapoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells. However, further studies are still needed to explore themechanism of these variations in proliferation and apoptosis.