Neutrophil Cathepsin G, but Not Elastase, Induces Aggregation of MCF-7 Mammary Carcinoma Cells by a Protease Activity-Dependent Cell-Oriented Mechanism
Figure 1
Cathepsin G increases the motility of MCF-7 cells. (a) Time course of the formation of MCF-7 cells aggregates by cathepsin G. MCF-7 cells ( cells/well) were seeded in a 96-multiwell plate in RPMI 1640 medium containing 5% FBS. The cells were cultured for 24 h and then incubated without or with cathepsin G (40 nM) in medium containing 1% BSA for the indicated periods. Scale bar = 50 μm. (b) Quantification of cathepsin G-treated MCF-7 cell motility. The cells were grown on a glass-based dish in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 5% FBS the day before measurements were taken. After changing the medium to RPMI 1640 supplemented with 1% BSA, the cells were chronologically observed using confocal laser microscopy with a built-in CO2 incubator at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air. The trajectories of the cells are shown (red lines in left panels and black lines in right panels). (c) Cell motility of cathepsin G-treated MCF-7 cells. The trajectories of the 10 cells that were randomly selected in a visual field were quantified using imaging software ImageJ. The results are shown as means (). Asterisk indicates that the values are significantly different according to the Student’s t-test ().
