engleski

Long-term exposure to hydrogen peroxide modulates NRF2 and AQP3 in breast cancer cell lines

Aquaporins are membrane proteins that facilitate the transport of water and other small uncharged solutes across the plasma membrane. There are currently 13 known AQPs found in humans, and they are classified into three groups based on their functional and structural properties. Several AQPs have also been shown to transport hydrogen peroxide and were named peroxiporins. Since they are involved in the regulation of cellular water homeostasis, proliferation, and migration, AQPs are often overexpressed in different tumors and are thought to have an oncogenic role. According to the literature, AQP3 is overexpressed in breast cancer cells compared to normal breast cells, so we put our efforts into finding its role in the cellular response to oxidative stress and its potential interaction with Nrf2, a major regulator of antioxidant and cellular protective genes. By long-term exposure of breast cancer cell lines to low levels of hydrogen peroxide, we simulated the physiological oxidative stress present in the tumor. In these conditions, we found an interesting upregulation of AQP3 in breast cancer cell lines, but not in the non-tumorigenic breast cell line. Surprisingly, Nrf2 did not respond to long-term exposure to hydrogen peroxide, opening new questions about its regulation in chronic oxidative stress.

NRF2 ; AQP3 ; breast cancer ; oxidative stress

nije evidentirano