title: Restricted expression of membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase by myofibroblasts adjacent to human breast cancer cells.
abstract: The membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP), a protease originally identified in breast carcinoma, is characterized by its capacity to activate other MMPs (MMP-2 and MMP-13) and to degrade extracellular matrix. Our study was undertaken to localize and identify the MT1-MMP expressing cells in human breast adenocarcinomas. A textural analysis of images obtained by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization showed precisely the co-expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (alphaSM actin) and MT1-MMP in myofibroblasts. MT1-MMP expression is confined to myofibroblasts in close contact with tumor cells. In sharp contrast, the expression of MMP-2 was more widely distributed in both alphaSM actin positive and negative cells close to and at distance from cancer cell clusters. Our in vitro observations are consistent with the higher level of MT1-MMP expression and of MMP-2 activation observed in alphaSM actin positive fibroblasts derived from breast tumors, as compared to normal breast fibroblasts. Collectively, these results implicate myofibroblasts as major producer of MT1-MMP in breast cancer and emphasize the importance of stromal-epithelial cell interactions in their progression.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tumor and Development Biology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Christèle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bisson
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blacher
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polette
authors.forename: Jean-Frédéric
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Blanc
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kebers
authors.forename: Joëlle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Desreux
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tetu
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Foidart
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Birembaut
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noel
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017364:Collagenases / Q000378:metabolism; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000494:pharmacology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053507:Matrix Metalloproteinase 11; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017364:Collagenases; C507079:MMP13 protein, human; D053507:Matrix Metalloproteinase 11; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1