Adiponectin induces breast cancer cell migration and growth factor expression.

Adiponectin, the hormone produced and secreted by adipocytes, has been shown to promote migration of the epithelial cells and angiogenesis in these cells. We sought to determine if adiponectin could induce the cellular migration and growth factor expression in breast cancer cells grown in vitro. The breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-436 and MFM-223 (estrogen-independent) were treated with adiponectin for different time periods. Supernatants of the cell cultures were obtained by centrifugation and were assayed for growth factor expression by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Becton-Dickinson-Falcon Transwell systems were used to assay adiponectin-induced migration. Adiponectin significantly induced the expression of various growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor-β1, and basic fibroblast growth factor in MDA-MB-436 and MFM-223 cells. Adiponectin also enhanced the migration of breast cancer cells which were inhibited about 50-70 % by the inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Adiponectin treatment of the cancer cell induced an increased expression of different growth factors and migration of the cells. These effects are likely to contribute to the progression of breast cancer, implying that change in adiponectin levels associated with obesity may be considered as a high risk factor in breast cancer patients.