Influence of morphine on TLR4/NF-kB signaling pathway of MCF-7 cells

Abstract

Morphine affects the risk of metastasis in cancer. The TLR4 gene promotes migration in adenocarcinoma cells. We investigated the effect of morphine on TLR4, MyD88 and NF-kappa B-expression and migration. Migration of estrogen receptor-positive MCF7 breast cancer cells was studied after 24 and 48 hours incubation with morphine, with boyden chamber method. Morphine effect on TLR4, MyD88 and NF-kappa B mRNA expression was determined by quantitative Real-Time polymerase chain reaction. Migration was reduced at the doses of 0.5 and 5 mu M (p < 0.05). However, TLR4, MyD88 and NF-kappa BmRNA expression was decreased at the doses of 0.5, 5 and 500 mu M. Morphine at the dose of 50 mu M increased the expression of mentioned genes. MCF-7 cell line after 48 hours incubation with the dose of 0.5 mu M morphine decreased the migration and at the dose of 0.5 mu M down-regulated the mRNA expression of TLR4, MyD88 and NF-kappa B, however, the higher doses increased the expression of TLR4, MyD88 and NF-kappa B. Morphine affects TLR4expression in breast cancer cell, which depends on time and concentration (Tab. 1, Fig. 5, Ref. 24).