Formation of Tissue Factor-factor VIIa-factor Xa Complex Prevents Apoptosis in Human Breast Cancer Cells
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-1-2006
Department
Biological Sciences
School
Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences
Abstract
Tissue factor (TF) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that initiates blood coagulation when complexed with factor VIIa (FVlla). TF is constitutively expressed in a variety of tumor cells and has been shown to play a role in cellular signaling and tumor progression. In this study, we investigated the effect of TF-FVIIa mediated signaling on apoptosis in human breast cancer cells. Apoptosis was induced by prolonged serum starvation and studied using the Adr-MCF-7 cell line, which has high endogenous TF expression. Treatment of the cells with the combination of FVIIa (10 nM) and FX (150 nM), reduced apoptosis by nearly 50% compared with untreated, control cells using an ELISA that detects histone-DNA fragments. In contrast, FVIIa (10 nM) alone did not significantly prevent apoptosis. Pretreatment of the Adr-MCF-7 cells with hirudin, a specific thrombin inhibitor, did not inhibit the anti-apoptotic effect of the combination of FVIIa and FX,whereas this effect could be abrogated by inhibition of phosphorylation of either p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) or protein kinase B (PKB/Akt). In addition, treatment of the Adr-MCF-7 cells with the combination of FVIIa and FX led to a 30-50% increase in the level of the anti-apoptotic protein, survivin, compared with untreated cells using Western blot analysis. These results indicate that formation of TF-FVIIa-FXa complex prevents apoptosis in breast cancer cells by a thrombin-independent pathway. Moreover, the anti-apoptotic effect of this signaling pathway involves phosphorylation of both p44/42 MAPK and PKB/Akt and might be mediated in part by an increase in cell survivin levels.
Publication Title
Thrombosis and Haemostasis
Volume
96
Issue
2
First Page
196
Last Page
201
Recommended Citation
Jiang, X.,
Guo, Y.,
Bromberg, M. E.
(2006). Formation of Tissue Factor-factor VIIa-factor Xa Complex Prevents Apoptosis in Human Breast Cancer Cells. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 96(2), 196-201.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/8541