CD74 a Potential Therapeutic Target for Breast Cancer Therapy: Interferon Gamma Up-regulates its Expression in CAMA-1 and MDA-MB-231 Cancer Cells

Background and Objective: Cluster of differentiation (CD) 74 is well known for its diverse proinflammatory and immunological functions. This study was undertaken to investigate the role of interferon (IFN)- on CD74 expression in breast cancer cells. Materials and Methods: The CAMA-1 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells were stimulated with IFN- and expression of CD74 was determined by flow cytometry and western immunoblotting using Raji cells as a positive control. The MTT assays were used to determine the effect of IFN- on the proliferation and migration of cells. Whereas, cell surface expression of HLA-ABC and HLA-DR were acquired by flow cytometry. Results: Treatment of CAMA-1 and MDA-MB-231cells with IFN- significantly increased the expression of CD74. Not only have these, IFN- also stimulates the expression of HLA-ABC and HLA-DR in a dose-dependent manner in CAMA-1 and MDA-MB-231cells. Moreover, IFN- treatment also inhibited the proliferation and migration of CAMA-1 and MDA-MB-231cells. Conclusion: The IFN- up-regulates CD74 expression in human breast cancer cells. The results concluded that IFN- played a key role in modulating the expression of CD74, as well as in the proliferation and the migration of CAMA-1 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells. Data suggest that CD74 plays a key role in tumor immunogenicity as well as in breast cancer immunoediting in humans.