Linoleic acid induces an EMT-like process in mammary epithelial cells MCF10A

• Published in: The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology Vol. 43; no. 12; pp. 1782 - 1791
• Main Authors: Espinosa-Neira, Roberto, Mejia-Rangel, Janini, Cortes-Reynosa, Pedro, Salazar, Eduardo Perez
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2011
• Subjects: animal models; Breast cancer; breast neoplasms; cadherins; Cadherins - genetics; Cadherins - metabolism; Cell Movement; Cell Transdifferentiation; E-cadherin; EMT; epidemiological studies; epithelial cells; Epithelial Cells - cytology; Epithelial Cells - metabolism; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; fat intake; Female; Humans; Linoleic acid; Linoleic Acid - pharmacology; mammary glands; Mammary Glands, Human - cytology; Mammary Glands, Human - metabolism; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 - metabolism; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - metabolism; MCF10A; metastasis; Microscopy, Fluorescence; neoplasm cells; NF-kappa B - genetics; NF-kappa B - metabolism; risk; transcription factor NF-kappa B; Breast cancer; EMT; E-cadherin; MCF10A; Linoleic acid
• ISSN: 1357-2725; 1878-5875
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2011.08.017

Epidemiological studies and animal models suggest an association between high levels of dietary fat intake and an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Epithelial–mesenchymal-transition (EMT) is a process, by which epithelial cells are transdifferentiated to a mesenchymal state, and it has been implicated in cancer progression, including invasion and metastasis. Linoleic acid (LA) induces proliferation and invasion in breast cancer cells. However, the role of LA on the EMT process in human mammary epithelial cells remains to be studied. In the present study, we demonstrate that LA induces a transient down-regulation of E-cadherin expression, accompanied with an increase of Snail1, Snail2, Twist1, Twist2 and Sip1 expressions. Furthermore, LA induces FAK and NFκB activation, MMP-2 and -9 secretions, migration and invasion. In summary, our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that LA promotes an EMT-like process in MCF10A human mammary epithelial cells.