β-Adrenoceptor Activation in Breast MCF-10A Cells Induces a Pattern of Catecholamine Production Similar to that of Tumorigenic MCF-7 Cells

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 21; no. 21; p. 7968
• Main Authors: Amaro, Filipa, Silva, Dany, Reguengo, Henrique, Oliveira, José C, Quintas, Clara, Vale, Nuno, Gonçalves, Jorge, Fresco, Paula
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 27-10-2020; MDPI
• Subjects: Adrenergic Agonists - pharmacology; Adrenergic receptors; Autocrine signalling; Biosynthesis; Breast - cytology; Breast - drug effects; Breast - metabolism; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - genetics; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Catecholamine; catecholamine synthesis; Catecholamines; Catecholamines - analysis; Catecholamines - biosynthesis; Cell activation; Cell growth; Cell Line; Cell proliferation; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cell viability; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Colon; Culture Media - analysis; Enzymes; Epinephrine; Epinephrine - analysis; Epithelial cells; Epithelial Cells - cytology; Epithelial Cells - drug effects; Epithelial Cells - metabolism; Epithelium; Female; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; High-performance liquid chromatography; Humans; Hypotheses; Immunocytochemistry; Ligands; MCF-7 Cells; Norepinephrine - analysis; Propranolol; Propranolol - pharmacology; Prostate; Receptors, Adrenergic - metabolism; Tumorigenesis; tumorigenic process; β-adrenoceptors; breast cancer; catecholamine synthesis; tumorigenic process; β-adrenoceptors; propranolol
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217968

Adrenaline, which participates in the neuroendocrine response that occurs during stress and perimenopause, may be tumorigenic. This exploratory study aimed at investigating whether non-tumorigenic and tumorigenic human breast epithelial cell lines are able to synthesize adrenaline. The study was carried out in non-tumorigenic (MCF-10A) and tumorigenic (MCF-7) human breast cell lines. Expression of enzymes involved in adrenaline synthesis was characterized by RT-qPCR, immunocytochemistry and western blot. Catecholamines and analogue compounds were quantified by HPLC-ECD. Functional assessment of the impact of drugs on cells' tumorigenic potential was assessed by determination of cell viability and clonogenic ability. Both MCF-10A and MCF-7 cells produce catecholamines, but the capacity to produce adrenaline is lower in MCF-10A cells. β-adrenoceptor activation increases the capacity of MCF-10A cells to produce adrenaline and favor both cell viability and colony formation. It is concluded that exposure of human breast epithelial cells to β-adrenoceptor agonists increases cell proliferation and the capacity to produce adrenaline, creating an autocrine potential to spread these adrenergic effects in a feed-forward loop. It is conceivable that these effects are related to tumorigenesis, bringing a new perspective to understand the claimed anticancer effects of propranolol and the increase in breast cancer incidence caused by stress or during perimenopause.