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Nek3 kinase regulates prolactin-mediated cytoskeletal reorganization and motility of breast cancer cells

Oncogene volume 26, pages 4668–4678 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Prolactin (PRL) stimulates the cytoskeletal re-organization and motility of breast cancer cells. During PRL receptor signaling, Vav2 becomes phosphorylated and activated, an event regulated by the serine/threonine kinase Nek3. Given the regulatory role of Vav2, the function of Nek3 in PRL-mediated motility and invasion was examined. Overexpression of Nek3 in Chinese hamster ovary transfectants potentiated cytoskeletal re-organization in response to PRL. In contrast, downregulation of Nek3 expression by small-interfering RNA (siRNA) attenuated PRL-mediated cytoskeletal reorganization, activation of GTPase Rac1, cell migration and invasion of T47D cells. In addition, PRL stimulation induced an interaction between Nek3 and paxillin and significantly increased paxillin serine phosphorylation, whereas Nek3 siRNA-transfected cells showed a marked reduction in paxillin phosphorylation. Analysis of breast tissue microarrays also demonstrated a significant up-regulation of Nek3 expression in malignant versus normal specimens. These data suggest that Nek3 contributes to PRL-mediated breast cancer motility through mechanisms involving Rac1 activation and paxillin phosphorylation.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr Michael E Hodsdon for receipt of recombinant PRL. This work was supported in part by grants from the NIH RO1CA69294 and RO1CA92265 (to CVC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    S L Miller

  2. Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    G Antico & C V Clevenger

  3. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    P N Raghunath & J E Tomaszewski

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  1. S L Miller
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Correspondence to C V Clevenger.

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Miller, S., Antico, G., Raghunath, P. et al. Nek3 kinase regulates prolactin-mediated cytoskeletal reorganization and motility of breast cancer cells. Oncogene 26, 4668–4678 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1210264

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