Peripheral T lymphocytes from women with breast cancer exhibit abnormal protein expression of several signaling molecules.
We examined signaling molecules of peripheral blood T lymphocytes obtained from women with breast cancer. In 6 of 14 patients, T lymphocytes displayed an impaired ability to translocate NFêB p65 (Rel-A) following activation by anti-CD3 and IL-2. This observation was made despite normal cytoplasmic levels of the Rel-A protein. We also detected abnormally low levels of the signaling molecules T-cell receptor (TCR)-zeta, ZAP-70 and p56lck in 4 of 14 breast cancer patients, i.e., defects in T-cell signaling molecules. T lymphocytes from 6 of the 14 patients also exhibited an increased expression of the dual specificity phosphatase, map kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1). MKP-1 inactivates MAP kinase and therefore may interfere with the activation of c-jun and c-fos. Abnormalities of I or more signaling molecules were found in 9 of 14 patients; however, only 3 patients had T cells that exhibited all 5 defects. Our data have implications for the detection of potentially dysfunctional T cells in patients with cancer. For example, the analysis of only 1 signaling molecule may allow patients with significant defects in T-cell signaling to go unnoticed. Finally, despite impaired Rel-A translocation, T cells were capable of transcribing IL-2. Impairments in the translocation of Rel-B and c-Rel further suggest that the NFKB family members Rel-A, Rel-B and c-Rel are not required for the transcription of IL-2 in the peripheral T lymphocytes of patients with breast cancer.
Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Robert W. Franz Cancer Research Center, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Portland, OR, USA. Robert_Kurt@phsor.org
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Kurt
W J
WJ
Urba
J W
JW
Smith
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DD
Schoof
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D054638:Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019860:Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck) / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; D054645:Protein Phosphatase 1; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D051746:ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; C054979:antigen T cell receptor, zeta chain; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D019860:Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck); D051746:ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase; C497261:ZAP70 protein, human; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; D054645:Protein Phosphatase 1; C517019:DUSP1 protein, human; D054638:Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases