The influence of opioids on urokinase plasminogen activator on protein and mRNA level in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line

Chem Biol Drug Des. 2009 Oct;74(4):390-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-0285.2009.00875.x. Epub 2009 Aug 19.

Abstract

Urokinase plasminogen activator plays a key role in tumor-associated processes, increasing cancer cell invasion and metastasis, and is therefore used as a marker in cancer prognosis. In this study, we have determined the effect of mu-opioid receptor agonists and antagonists on the urokinase plasminogen activator secretion in MCF-7 cell line. It was shown that mu-opioid receptor agonists, such as morphine and endomorphins, greatly stimulate urokinase plasminogen activator secretion, while naloxone and MOR-selective antagonists elicit the opposite effect. The same tendency was observed also on the urokinase plasminogen activator mRNA level. However, neither agonists nor antagonists had any effect on proliferation of MCF-7 cells. The findings reported in this study may be useful in designing further experiments aimed at elucidating the role of the opioid system in cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Morphine / pharmacology
  • Naloxone / pharmacology
  • Narcotic Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / agonists
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / metabolism
  • Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator / genetics
  • Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / genetics
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / metabolism*

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu
  • Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator
  • Naloxone
  • Morphine
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator