YKL-40 inhibits expression of β-casein and E-cadherin; but increases MMP-9 expression and cell migration.

A. 76N MECs were grown to sub-confluence and added with 100 ng/ml ySP, 100 ng/ml YKL-40 or 5 µg/ml combined PRL, HDC and INS for 2 days. Cellular protein and RNA samples were collected to test expression of β-casein by immunoblotting and RT-PCR analysis, respectively. B. Two days following treatment as above, cell conditioned medium and cell lysates were subjected to immunoblotting using antibodies against E-cad and MMP-9. C. Cells were also determined for cell motility using a migration assay described in the Method and data were quantified. *P<0.05 compared with ySP control. n = 4.