Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression of immune system cells from metastatic breast cancer patients with circulating tumor cells.
The risk posed by breast cancer represents a complex interaction among factors affecting tumor immunity of the host. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are members of the innate immune system and generally function to attract host immune cells upon activation. However, the good intentions of TLRs are sometimes not transferred to positive long-term effects, due to their involvement in exacerbating inflammatory effects and even contributing to continued inflammation. Chronic inflammatory states are considered to favor an increased predisposition to cancer, with continuous activation of inflammatory cytokines and other hallmarks of inflammation exerting a deleterious effect. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are neoplastic cells present in the peripheral blood circulation that have been found to be an indicator of disease progression and long-term survival. In the present study, we examined the expression of TLRs on dendritic cells, which play a major role in eliciting anti-tumor immunity, in metastatic breast cancer patients with CTCs. Flow cytometric data showed significant differences between circulating tumor cell (CTC) positive patients and CTC negative patients in their expression of TLR2 by CD8 positive cytotoxic T cells and TLR2, TLR4, TLR3, and TLR8 by CD11c positive dendritic cells (p<0.05). Expression of TLR2, TLR4, and TLR8 was increased in CTC positive patients, whereas TLR3 expression was decreased in the dendritic cell population.
Department of Pathology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
Taryn L
TL
Green
Department of Pathology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
Mark F
MF
Santos
Department of Pathology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
Ahmed A
AA
Ejaeidi
Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
Barbara S
BS
Craft
Department of Pathology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
Robert E
RE
Lewis
Department of Pathology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
Julius M
JM
Cruse
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051196:Toll-Like Receptor 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D051200:Toll-Like Receptor 8 / Q000378:metabolism; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
C495342:TLR2 protein, human; C495344:TLR3 protein, human; C495345:TLR4 protein, human; C495349:TLR8 protein, human; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051196:Toll-Like Receptor 3; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D051200:Toll-Like Receptor 8; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors
Circulating tumor cells; Metastatic breast carcinoma; Toll-like receptor