CHL1 is involved in human breast tumorigenesis and progression

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2013 Aug 23;438(2):433-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.07.093. Epub 2013 Jul 29.

Abstract

Neural cell adhesion molecules (CAM) play important roles in the development and regeneration of the nervous system. The L1 family of CAMs is comprised of L1, Close Homolog of L1 (CHL1, L1CAM2), NrCAM, and Neurofascin, which are structurally related trans-membrane proteins in vertebrates. Although the L1CAM has been demonstrated play important role in carcinogenesis and progression, the function of CHL1 in human breast cancer is limited. Here, we found that CHL1 is down-regulated in human breast cancer and related to lower grade. Furthermore, overexpression of CHL1 suppresses proliferation and invasion in MDA-MB-231 cells and knockdown of CHL1 expression results in increased proliferation and invasion in MCF7 cells in vitro. Finally, CHL1 deficiency promotes tumor formation in vivo. Our results may provide a strategy for blocking breast carcinogenesis and progression.

Keywords: Breast cancer; CHL1; Carcinogenesis; Progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Disease Progression
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Tetrazolium Salts / pharmacology
  • Thiazoles / pharmacology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CHL1 protein, human
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tetrazolium Salts
  • Thiazoles
  • thiazolyl blue