The invasive phenotype in HMT-3522 cells requires increased EGF receptor signaling through both PI 3-kinase and ERK 1,2 pathways.

We studied the invasion of HMT-3522 breast epithelial cells in response to epidermal growth factor (EGF), and the associated signaling pathways. HMT-3522 T4-2 cells were shown to invade Matrigel-coated Transwell membranes in response to EGF while HMT-3522 S-1 cells failed to invade when treated with EGF. Studies utilizing specific molecular inhibitors showed the importance of beta1 integrin, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI 3-kinase), p38, extracellular regulated kinase 1, 2 (Erk 1,2) MAP kinases, and metalloproteinases in invasion and motility. T4-2 cell invasion was shown to be time-dependent and also gene transcription-dependent as shown by inhibition with Actinomycin D. T4-2 cells exhibited an increased activation of MAP kinases Erk 1,2 (2-fold), EGF receptor (3-fold), and PI 3-kinase (3- to 4-fold) when compared to the S-1 cells. In response to EGF, T4-2 cells showed a 5-fold greater secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) as compared to S-1 cells, and this increase was largely dependent on the activity of PI 3-kinase. These findings indicate that expression of the invasive phenotype in these breast epithelial cells requires increased EGF receptor signaling, involving both PI 3-kinase and Erk 1,2 activities, which leads to multiple downstream effects, including enhanced secretion of MMP-9 and transcription of invasion-related genes.