Interleukin-8 upregulates integrin β3 expression and promotes estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cell invasion by activating the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) possesses tumorigenic and proangiogenic properties and is overexpressed in many human cancers. The integrin family regulates a diverse array of cellular functions crucial to the initiation, progression and metastasis of solid tumors. However, the mechanisms of action of IL-8 and integrin in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer are largely unknown. In this study, IL-8 and integrin β3 expression in human breast cancer cells and tissues was examined by real-time PCR, Western blot and immunochemistry analysis. Integrin β3 expression, invasive ability and the activation of PI3K/Akt and NF-κB pathways in IL-8 knockdown breast cancer cells were evaluated. In addition, reporter assay and ChIP were performed to assess integrin β3 promoter activity in IL-8 knockdown cells. We observed a positive correlation between integrin β3 and IL-8 expression, which was inversely correlated with ER status in breast cancer cell lines and tissues. IL-8 siRNA decreased the invasion and integrin β3 expression in human breast cancer cells. Moreover, IL-8 siRNA attenuated the phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt and inhibited NF-κB activity and binding on integrin β3 promoter. IL-8 siRNA diminished NF-κB nuclear translocation via blocking IκB phosphorylation in the cytoplasm. In conclusion, IL-8 activates the PI3K/Akt pathway, which in turn activates NF-κB, resulting in the upregulation of integrin β3 expression and increased invasion of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cells. IL-8/PI3K/Akt/NF-κB/integrin β3 axis may be exploited for therapeutic intervention to breast cancer metastasis.