Knockdown of CD-74 in the Proliferative and Apoptotic Activity of Breast Cancer Cells

Hussain  Al Ssadh; Waleed Al Abdulmonem; Zafar Rasheed; Inamul Hasan  Madar; Jamila  Alhoderi; Samah K Nasr  Eldeen; Ali  Alradhwan; Noura  Alasmael; Abdullah  Alkhamiss; Nelson  FernÃ¡ndez

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.354

Authors

Hussain Al Ssadh School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
Waleed Al Abdulmonem Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia
Zafar Rasheed Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia
Inamul Hasan Madar Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India
Jamila Alhoderi School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
Samah K Nasr Eldeen Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Inaya Medical College, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Central Laboratories, Egyptian Ministry of Health, Tanta, Egypt
Ali Alradhwan Biochemistry Department, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
Noura Alasmael College of Medicine, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah Alkhamiss Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia
Nelson FernÃ¡ndez School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2019.354

Keywords:

CD 74, Knockdown, Proliferation, Apoptosis, Breast cancer, CAMA-1, MDA-MB-231 cells

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The cluster of differentiation (CD) 74 is known for its immunological functions and its elevated level was reported in various cancer cells.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression and potential roles of CD74 in the proliferative and apoptotic activity of breast cancer.

METHODS: Expression of CD74, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and CD44 was assayed in CAMA-1 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines using flow cytometry. CD74 was knocked down using CD74 siRNA-transfection in CAMA-1, and MDA-MB-231 cells and proliferation and apoptosis were determined in the transfected breast cancer cells.

RESULTS: The data showed that CD74, MIF and CD44 were expressed in breast cancer cell lines and were associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis. Correlation analysis revealed that CD74 was positively correlated and colocalised with MIF on the cell-surface of CAMA-1 and MDA-MB-231. The knockdown of CD74 significantly reduced CAMA-1 and MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation and increased the level of apoptotic cells.

CONCLUSION: We concluded that the interactions of CD74 with MIF and CD74 with CD44 could be a potential tumour marker for breast cancer cells. Moreover, the level of co-expression of MIF and CD74 or CD44 could be a surrogate marker for the efficacy of anti-angiogenic drugs, particularly in breast cancer tumours. In short, the study revealed the potential roles of CD74 in the proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer which may serve as a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.