Effects of tick saliva on the migratory and invasive activity of Saos-2 osteosarcoma and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

In previous studies we showed that tick saliva modulates the migratory activity of cells involved in the wound healing response. Since cell migration is a prerequisite for tumor invasion and metastasis, we examined the effects of tick saliva on the migratory and invasive activity of Saos-2 osteosarcoma and MDA-MB-231 (MB-231) breast cancer cells and the potential signaling pathways that may be affected. Saliva inhibited basal and agonist-induced Saos-2 and MB-231 migration and invasion through a matrigel-coated filter. In the Saos-2 cells, saliva suppressed epidermal growth factor (EGF)-activation of Akt/Protein Kinase B, however, only basal extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activity was affected in MB-231 cells. EGF receptor (EGFR) overexpression masked the effect of saliva on MB-231 cells, but its ability to inhibit MB-231 migration was enhanced by the EGFR inhibitor PD 168393 and MEK inhibitor U0126. Our data indicate that the mechanisms ticks have evolved to regulate the wound healing response have generalized effects on the migratory and invasive activities of metastatic cancer cells.