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Expression and localization of inhibin/activin subunits and activin receptors in MCF-7 cells, a human breast cancer cell line

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Abstract

Inhibins and activins are members of the transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) superfamily. Since TGFβ has been shown to be a potent proliferation-inhibiting agent for the breast cancer cell line MCF-7, we determined whether this cell line (a) transcribes messenger RNAs coding inhibin/activin α-, βA-, and βB-subunits and activin receptors, and (b) produces inhibin and/or activin proteins. Messenger RNAs for α- and β-subunits of inhibin/activin and activin receptor II in MCF-7 cells were detected and localized using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis andin situ hybridization, respectively. The identity of the RT-PCR products was confirmed by DNA sequencing of PCR products. Immunocytochemically, inhibin and activin were localized in these cells. Our findings that messenger RNAs encoding inhibin α-subunit, inhibin/activin βA-subunit, and activin receptor II were expressed, and inhibin/activin proteins were produced by MCF-7 cells, imply that these gonadal growth factors may have paracrine/autocrine functions in human breast cancer. Further, these observations suggest that these growth factors may be involved in regulating the growth and differentiation of human breast cancer cells.

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  1. Department of Cell and Neurobiology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, 1333 San Pablo Street, 90033, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Shao-Yao Ying & Zhong Zhang

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  1. Shao-Yao Ying
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Ying, SY., Zhang, Z. Expression and localization of inhibin/activin subunits and activin receptors in MCF-7 cells, a human breast cancer cell line. Breast Cancer Res Tr 37, 151–160 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01806496

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