Role of Runx2 in cell migratory ability of breast cancer cells.

Abstract

Human breast cancers are known to preferentially metastasize to the skeletal sites and the osteolytic bone destruction associated with breast cancer skeletal metastases represents a serious and incurable clinical condition. However, the cellular understanding of breast cancer cells migrating to bone was limited. Findings have demonstrated that breast cancer cells express Runx2 (Cbfa/AML3, the Runt family of Transcription Factors), which was essential for bone formation and a regulator of skeletal homeostasis. In our present study, we explored the possible role of Runx2 function in affecting breast cancer cell phenotype via in vitro cell migration assay. A two-way approach was adopted in which Runx2 expression was silenced in metastatic breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231 or conversely, Runx2 expression was upregulated via transient transfection in non-metastatic breast cancer cell line, MCF7. Our experimental results demonstrated that the depletion of Runx2 expression in MDA-MB-231 cells resulted in a decrease in percent closure, cell migration distance, and cell migration rate; whereas over-expression of Runx2 in MCF7 cells enhanced its percent closure, cell migration distance and cell migration rate. In conclusion, Runx2 plays a role in enhancing cell migration of breast cancer cell lines.