Inhibitory effects of resistin-13-peptide on the proliferation, adhesion, and invasion of MDA-MB-231 in human breast carcinoma cells

To investigate the potential effects of resistin-13-peptide on the growth, adhesion, and invasion in human breast carcinoma cells, MDA-MB-231. 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay and colony-forming assay were used to assess the proliferation effects of resistin-13-peptide. The adhesive ability was investigated by cell adhesion assay, and the invasive potential was assessed using a transwell model. Activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 were measured by zymogrophy analysis and western blotting. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2 were determined by western blotting. In this study, we performed in vivo experiments and determined the effect of resistin-13-peptide on tumor growth and other organs, especially ovaries in a xenograft model using the cell line studied. Resistin-13-peptide inhibited MDA-MB-231 cell growth and colony formation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Meanwhile, the invasive and adhesive abilities of MDA-MB-231 cells were yet cut down by resistin-13-peptide in a dose-dependent manner. Resistin-13-peptide decreased the gelatinolytic activities of both MMP-2 and MMP-9 and enhanced the protein expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, which were secreted from the MDA-MB-231 cells. The animal experiments found that the growth of tumors was repressed by resistin-13-peptide, which affected other organs in the same time. Especially, ovaries did not have pathological changes yet. Treatment with resistin-13-peptide is effective in suppressing tumor proliferation, adhesion, and invasion. The possible mechanism is downregulation of MMPs and upregulation of TIMPs.