Inhibition of PKC-Induced COX-2 and IL-8 Expression in Human Breast Cancer Cells by Glucosamine

Breast cancer is a common cancer leading to many deaths among females. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) are two highly expressed inflammatory mediators to be induced by the protein kinase C (PKC) signaling via various inflammatory stimuli and both contribute significantly to cancer metastasis/progression. Glucosamine has been shown to act as an anti-inflammation molecule. The aim of this study was to clarify the role and acting mechanism of glucosamine during the PKC-regulation of COX-2/IL-8 expression and the associated impact on breast cancer. In MCF-7 breast cancer cells, glucosamine effectively suppresses the PKC induction of COX-2 and IL-8 promoter activity, mRNA and protein levels, as well as the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and IL-8. Glucosamine is able to promote COX-2 protein degradation in a calpain-dependent manner and IL-8 protein degradation in calpain-dependent and proteasome-dependent manners. The MAPK and NF-κB pathways are involved in PKC-induced COX-2 expression, but only the NF-κB pathway is involved in PKC-induced IL-8 expression. Glucosamine attenuates PKC-mediated IκBα phosphorylation, nuclear NF-κB translocation, and NF-κB reporter activation. Both PGE2 and IL-8 promote cell proliferation and IL-8 induces cell migration; thus, glucosamine appears to suppress PKC-induced cell proliferation and migration. Furthermore, glucosamine significantly inhibits the growth of breast cancer xenografts and this is accompanied by a reduction in COX-2 and IL-8 expression. In conclusion, glucosamine seems to attenuate the inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo and this occurs, at least in part by targeting to the NF-κB signaling pathway, resulting in an inhibition of breast cancer cell growth. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 2240–2251, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.