We investigated the effect of high mobility group
protein N2 (
HMGN2) on the proliferation and apoptosis of the human MCF-7
breast cancer cell line, and its effect on
tumor growth in a subcutaneous
heterotopic transplantation tumor model of
breast cancer. The cell viability assay was used to verify the effect of the recombinant human
HMGN2 on MCF-7 cell proliferation. The Transwell chamber assay was used to verify the effect of
HMGN2 on MCF-7 cell migration. Flow cytometry and Hoechst staining were used to detect the effect of
HMGN2 on MCF-7 cell apoptosis. MCF-7 was injected to establish a subcutaneous
heterotopic transplantation tumor model of
breast cancer in nude mice. The size, weight and volume of
tumor in each group were compared after the administration of different concentrations of
HMGN2 solution around the
tumor tissue at day 1, 3, 5 and 7. The
tumor tissue was removed and cut into sections, and the apoptotic cells in
tumors of nude mice were detected by a TUNEL kit. The
CCK-8 assay showed that
HMGN2 at different concentrations inhibited the proliferation of the MCF-7
breast cancer cells, and the proliferation of MCF-7 cells were significantly inhibited when the concentration of
HMGN2 reached 3 µg/ml (P<0.01). The Transwell chamber assay showed that 3 µg/ml of
HMGN2 significantly decreased the migration capacity of MCF-7 cells (P<0.01). Flow cytometry and Hoechst staining showed that 3 µg/ml of
HMGN2 significantly increased apoptosis of MCF-7 cells (P<0.01). After the nude mouse model of
breast cancer was established,
HMGN2 at different concentrations was injected around the
tumor tissue at day 1, 3, 5 and 7. We demonstrated that the growth of
breast cancer was significantly inhibited when the concentration of
HMGN2 reached 15 µg/ml. TUNEL staining showed that the number of apoptotic cells in the 15 µg/ml dose group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). Therefore, in vitro and in vivo experiments proved that recombinant human
HMGN2 could significantly inhibit the proliferation and migration of
breast cancer cells, which increased the apoptosis of
breast cancer cells and exerted anti-
breast cancer effects, which enriched our understanding of the
biological roles of
HMGN2.