Effect of nerve growth factor on proliferation and survival of breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7

AIM: To study the effect of nerve growth factor(NGF) on the proliferation and survival of breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7.METHODS: Two breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 were used in the experiment.The expression of NGF and its receptor tyrosine kinase A(TrkA) was determined by the method of immunofluorescence.The NGF autocrine was detected by the method of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The expression of TrkA was measured by Western blotting.The effect of NGF blocking agent Ro 08-2750 on the proliferation of the cells was evaluated by MTT assay(mono-nuclear cell direct cytotoxicity assay).The cell apoptosis and the change of the cell cycle after exposed to Ro 08-2750 were observed by flow cytometry.RESULTS: Both cell lines expressed NGF and TrkA.Ro 08-2750 inhibited the proliferation of both cell lines in a dose-dependent manner.According to the results of flow cytometry,the S-phase cells in both cell lines increased but the G2/M-phase cells decreased after treated with Ro 08-2750.An apoptotic peak occurred in MDA-MB-231 cells.CONCLUSION: The results suggest that proliferation of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines is dependent on NGF.NGF promotes the survival of MDA-MB-231 cells.