SPIKE PROTEIN OF SARS-COV-2 INCREASES CXCR4 EXPRESSION AND MIGRATION OF BREAST CANCER CELLS IN VITRO

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Virology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Viral respiratory infections are suggested to facilitate breast cancer (BC) metastasis.
• The role of SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, in triggering BC progression and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (SP) on the expression of key signaling axis components (CXCL12/CXCR4) in BC.
• To assess the effect of SP on cell adhesion markers (CD326, CD54), epithelial marker (cytokeratin-18), beta-catenin, and migratory activity in vitro.

Main Methods:

• MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines were incubated with SARS-CoV-2 SP for 48 hours.
• Marker expression (CXCR4, CXCL12, CD326, CD54, cytokeratin-18, b-catenin) was quantified using flow cytometry.
• Cell migration was evaluated using the scratch assay.

Main Results:

• SP significantly increased CXCR4 expression in both cell lines.
• SP differentially affected CXCL12 expression, increasing it in MDA-MB-231 cells and decreasing it in MCF-7 cells.
• SP treatment altered expression of adhesion molecules and cytokeratin-18, and accelerated migration in both cell lines, notably in MDA-MB-231 cells.

Conclusions:

• SP influences immunophenotypic markers associated with breast cancer progression.
• Observed changes suggest SP may induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition in MCF-7 cells.
• SP appears to enhance migratory activity in both studied breast cancer cell lines.