D.F. Moreira, B.E. Strauss, E. Vannier, J.E. Belizário
Published: September 30, 2008
Genet. Mol. Res. 7 (3) : 925-932
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/vol7-3x-meeting009

Cite this Article:
D.F. Moreira, B.E. Strauss, E. Vannier, J.E. Belizário (2008). Genes up- and down-regulated by dermcidin in breast cancer: a microarray analysis. Genet. Mol. Res. 7(3): 925-932. https://doi.org/10.4238/vol7-3x-meeting009

About the Authors
D.F. Moreira, B.E. Strauss, E. Vannier, J.E. Belizário

Corresponding Author
J.E. Belizário
Email: jebeliza@usp.br

ABSTRACT

3-fold change and p 0.005). The gene expression of 208 was reduced and of 27 was increased in the three DCD-RNAi clones compared to pLKO control clone. The expression of 77 genes (37%) encoding for enzymes involved in amino acid metabolism, glucose metabolism and oxidoreductase activity and several genes required for cell survival and DNA repair were decreased. The expression of EGFR/ErbB-1 gene, an important predictor of outcome in breast cancer, was reduced together with the genes for betacellulin and amphiregulin, two known ligands of EGFR/ErbB receptors. Many of the 27 genes up-regulated by DCD-RNAi expression have not yet been fully characterized; among those with known function, we identified the calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-II delta and calcineurin A alpha. We compared 132 up-regulated and 12 down-regulated genes in our dataset with those genes up- and down-regulated by inhibitors targeting various signaling pathway components. The analysis showed that the genes in the DCD pathway are aligned with those functionally influenced by the drugs sirolimus, LY-294002 and wortmannin. Therefore, DCD may exert its function by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Together, these bioinformatic approaches suggest the involvement of DCD in the regulation of genes for breast cancer cell metabolism, proliferation and survival.

Key words: Breast cancer, Dermcidin; Oncogene, ErbB receptors.