In Vitro and In Vivo Effects of Suppressor of Cytokine Signalling 7 Knockdown in Breast Cancer : The Influence on Cellular Response to Hepatocyte Growth Factor

Purpose. Suppressor of cytokine signaling 7 (SOCS7) is a member of the SOCS family and is known to interact with phospholipase Cγ-1 (PLCγ-1), a key downstream mediator of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/C-MET axis. Here, we report our observations of the effect of knocking down SOCS7 gene on the behaviour of breast cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo and to elucidate whether this involves HGF/C-MET pathway using the PLCγ-1 blocker U73122. Methods. MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells were transfected with anti-SOCS7 ribozymal transgene, to create sublines with SOCS7 knockdown. The in vitro growth and migration of the cells were evaluated in basic conditions and with HGF and U73122 treatment using growth assays, scratch-wound, and electrical cell impedance sensing (ECIS) migration assays. MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 in vivo tumour xenograft growth were also studied. Results. Basal in vitro growth and migration of both cellular lines and the in vivo MCF7 xenograft growth were significantly enhanced with SOCS7 knockdown. In vitro HGF treatment has further influenced the growth and migration when SOCS7 gene was knocked-down in both cellular lines (P