Differential expression of WISP-1 and WISP-2 genes in normal and transformed human breast cell lines.

The transcriptional alterations of specific gene(s) are actively associated with the development of different cancers including breast. The preceding studies of different laboratories documented at least 40 genes that may contribute directly to the genesis of cancer. Using differential display, RT-PCR and DNA sequencing analyses in normal human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC) and various breast tumor cell lines including MCF-7, ZR-75, T-47D and SKBR2, we demonstrated that WISP-1 and WISP-2 genes are differentially transcribed in these cells. WISP-2 mRNA transcription was identified in all 4 tumor derived cell lines, but the mRNA expression was undetected or minimally detected in normal breast epithelial cells. WISP-1 mRNA expression was identified in normal and transformed cell lines. However, the level of expression was higher in different breast tumor cell lines as compared to HMEC. The mRNA expression profiles of WISP genes in normal breast epithelial cells and breast tumor derived cell lines indicated a strong possibility of the involvement of WISP-signaling in the development of human breast tumors, and can be utilized as genetic markers of this disease.