Kindlin-2 promotes genome instability in breast cancer cells

Kindlin-2, as a focal adhesion protein, has been found to regulate tumor progression. However, the mechanism underlying Kindlin-2 regulation of tumor progression is largely unknown. Here, we report that Kindlin-2 regulates breast cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis and chromosomal abnormalities in both gain and loss of function assays. Functionally, overexpression of Kindlin-2 promotes tumor formation in implanted xenograft while knockdown of Kindlin-2 inhibits tumor growth in mice. Mechanistically, an array-based comparative genomic hybridization and karyotype analyses indicate that ectopic expression of Kindlin-2 leads to genome instability in breast cancer cells. Our data suggest a novel mechanism that Kindlin-2 regulates breast cancer progression by inducing genome instability.

► Kindlin-2 promotes tumor growth in breast cancer cells.
► Kindlin-2 prevents apoptosis in breast cancer cells.
► Ectopic expression of Kindlin-2 leads to genome instability in breast cancer cells.