ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the role of NIMA-related kinase-7 (NEK7) in breast cancer (BC) and its potential molecular mechanism.Methods:Quantitative real-time reverse-transcription (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of NEK7 in BC tissue and cell lines. The effect of NEK7 on BC cell proliferation was examined by CCK-8. Proteins interacted with NEK7 were screened in Biological database. The effect of overexpression of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) on BC cell proliferation was evaluated. Western blot was used to detect NLRP3 protein expression, and ELISA was employed to evaluate IL-1β and IL-18 expression level.Result:NEK7 was upregulated in BC tissues and cells, and enforced-expression of NEK7 promoted BC cell proliferation[NEK7 over-expression group: 24 h: (0.33±0.02) , 48 h: (0.59±0.02) , 72 h: (0.76±0.02) ; Blank group: 24 h: (0.30±0.02) , 48 h: (0.45±0.02) , 72 h: (0.62±0.03) ; NEK7 empty vector group: 24 h: (0.32±0.02) , 48 h: (0.46±0.02) , 72 h: (0.63±0.03) ]. There was a positive correlation between NEK7 and NLRP3 ( R=0.13) . Overexpression of NLRP3 increased the proliferation ability of BC cell[NLRP3 over-expression group: 24 h: (0.35±0.02) , 48 h: (0.65±0.02) , 72 h: (0.80±0.03) ; Blank group: 24 h: (0.33±0.02) , 48 h: (0.51±0.02) , 72 h: (0.66±0.03) ; NLRP3 empty vector group: 24 h: (0.34±0.02) , 48 h: (0.52±0.03) , 72 h: (0.66±0.03) ]. NEK7 could positively regulate NLRP3 protein and up-regulate IL-1β (NEK7 over-expression group: 129.96±7.62 pg/ml, Blank group: 19.80±2.42pg/ml, NEK7 empty vector group: 21.30±1.77 pg/ml) and IL-18 (NEK7 over-expression group: 144.08±17.20 pg/ml, Blank group: 16.84±2.34pg/ml, NEK7 empty vector group: 17.64±1.94 pg/ml) expression. Conclusion:The upregulation of NEK7 was involved in the process of BC progression by inducing NLRP3 inflammasome activation, suggesting that NEK7 might be a promising therapeutic target for BC.