The effects and possible mechanism of action of apolipoprotein M on the growth of breast cancer cells

Abstract

Background: To investigate the effects and mechanism of action of apolipoprotein M (ApoM) on the growth of breast cancer (BC) cells.

Methods and results: Bioinformatics, cell experiments and animal experiments were used to verify the effect of ApoM on breast cancer cell lines and breast tumor growth in vivo. ApoM expression was significantly reduced in BC tissues, and patients with lower ApoM mRNA expression had a poorer prognosis (P < 0.0001). Besides, ApoM can partially inhibit the proliferative, migratory and invasive processes of BC cells. In vivo, the difference between ApoM-OE and NC groups was no significant. The level of vitamin D receptor (VDR) protein in MDA-MB-231 cells was increased by overexpression of ApoM (P < 0.05), while in MCF-7 cells, VDR levels decreased (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: ApoM can partially inhibit the growth of BC cells. VDR may play a role, but is not the main pathway.

Keywords: Apolipoprotein M; Biological behavior; Breast cancer; Tumor in situ; Vitamin D receptor.