Aquaporin-1 Activity of Plasma Membrane Affects MCF-7 Mammary Carcinoma Cell Migration

Recent studies uncovered an important role of aquaporins in cell migration, and migration-associated cell function such as angiogenesis, wound healing, and neutrophil motility. Here we provide evidence that aquaporin expression is involved in MCF-7 human mammary carcinoma cell migration. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, immunoblot and immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated two populations of MCF-7 cell clones with low (MCF-7l) and high (MCF-7A) AQP1 expression and the AQP1 protein expression patterns in the plasma membrane of MCF-7 cells. MCF-7 cell clones (MCF-11 and MCF-7A) with low and about two-fold higher osmotic water permeability were identified by functional assays with corresponding low and high AQP1 expression. Cell migration rate was remarkably higher in MCF-7A cells as compared to MCF-7l cells, assessed by wound healing and Boyden chamber assays. Adenoviral-mediated AQP1 expression in MCF-7l cells increased their water permeability and migration rate to the level similar to MCF-7A cells. These results provide the direct evidence that aquaporin-mediated membrane water permeability enhances MCF-7 mammary carcinoma cell migration and may be associated with mammary carcinoma invasion and metastasis.