半乳糖凝集素3在乳腺癌患者中的表达及与上皮间质转化的关系

Expression of galectin-3 in breast cancer patients and its relationship with epithelial-mesenchymal transition

目的探讨半乳糖凝集素3(Gal-3)在乳腺癌患者中的表达水平及其与上皮间质转化(EMT)的关系。方法选择86例女性浸润性乳腺癌患者的癌组织和癌旁组织作为研究对象,其中发生肝转移者32例。采用免疫组化法检测Gal-3、波形蛋白(Vim)、E-钙黏附蛋白(E-cad)表达,采用Western blot法检测Gal-3的表达,分析Gal-3的表达与临床病理参数的关系。构建siRNA-Gal-3-vector和lentivirus-Gal-3-vector,转染SKBR-3细胞,用Western bolt法检测转染后细胞中Gal-3、E-cad及Vim的表达,并观察细胞的迁移及侵袭情况。结果86例患者癌旁组织Gal-3和Vim阳性表达率为0,E-cad表达阳性率为100%;86例患者乳腺癌组织Gal-3、Vim、E-cad阳性表达率分别为81%、57%和26%,与癌旁组织均有非常显著差异(均P<0.01)。发生肝转移者乳腺癌组织Gal-3、E-cad、Vim阳性表达率与未发生肝转移者有非常显著差异(分别为100%vs.70%,47%vs.13%,69%vs.48%,P<0.01)。Gal-3的阳性表达与TNM分期、腋窝淋巴结的转移及肝转移存在显著的相关性(P<0.05)。lentivirus-Gal-3-vector组乳腺癌细胞中Gal-3的表达显著增加,乳腺癌细胞的迁移与侵袭能力显著增加(P<0.01);EMT标志分子E-cad表达显著降低、Vim表达显著增加(P<0.01)。结论Gal-3在浸润性乳腺癌患者中呈现高表达,可能通过调控EMT促进乳腺癌细胞的浸润与转移。

AIM To investigate the expressions level of galeatin-3(Gal-3)in breast cancer patients and the relationship with epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT).METHODS Cancer tissues and adjacent tissues from 86 female patients with invasive breast cancer,including 32 patients with liver metastasis,were selected.The expression of Gal-3,vimentin(Vim)and E-cadherin(E-cad)in tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry and the expression of Gal-3 was detected by Western blotting.The relationship between the expression of Gal-3 and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed.The siRNA-Gal-3-vector and lentivirus-Gal-3-vector were constructed and transfected into SK-BR-3 cells.The expression levels of Gal-3,E-cad and Vim in cells were detected by Western blot,and the migration and invasion of cells were observed.RESULTS The positive expression rate of Gal-3 and Vim in 86 adjacent tissues was 0,and the positive rate of E-cad expression was 100%.The positive expression rates of Gal-3,Vim and E-cad in 86 breast cancer tissues were 81%,57% and 26% respectively,with significant differences between the adjacent tissues(all P<0.01).The positive expression rates of Gal-3,E-cad and Vim in breast cancer patients with liver metastases were significantly different with those without liver metastases(100% vs.70%,47% vs.13%,69% vs.48%,respectively,P<0.01).There was a significant correlation between the positive expression of Gal-3 and TNM stage,axillary lymph node metastasis or liver metastasis(P<0.05).In lentivirus-Gal-3-vector group,the expression of Gal-3 was significantly increased and the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells was significantly increased(P<0.01);the expression of EMT marker E-cad was significantly decreased(P<0.01)and the expression of Vim was significantly increased(P<0.01)CONCLUSION Gal-3 is highly expressed in patients with invasive breast cancer,and may promote the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells by regulating EMT.