Research Paper Volume 12, Issue 16 pp 16172—16182

Figure 4. The SDF-1/CXCR4 axis mediates leptin-induced promotion of breast cancer cell metastasis. (A, B) Breast cancer cell invasion was examined using the transwell assay. The upper and lower chambers were separated by polycarbonate membranes. Breast cancer cells were pre-treated with leptin (200ng/mL) and then seeded in the upper chambers of the 24-well plate (2×10⁴/well) with serum-free medium. The lower chamber was filled with medium containing SDF-1 (100 ng/mL) as a chemoattractant. The data are shown as means ± SD. ***P<0.001. (C, D) The effect of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis inhibitor AMD3100 on breast cancer cell invasion was examined in the transwell assay. Breast cancer cells were pre-treated with leptin (200 ng/mL) and then seeded in the upper chambers of a 24-well plate (2×10⁴/well) with serum-free medium containing AMD3100 (1 μg/mL). The lower chambers were filled with medium containing SDF-1 (100 ng/mL) as a chemoattractant. The data are shown as means ± SD. ***P<0.001. (E) Real-time PCR was used to detect SDF-1 expression in the bone marrow of healthy individuals and breast cancer patients.