title: Significance of Tissue Expression and Serum Levels of Angiopoietin-like Protein 4 in Breast Cancer Progression: Link to NF-κB /P65 Activity and Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The molecular mechanisms linking breast cancer progression and inflammation still remain obscure. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible association of angiopoeitin like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) and its regulatory factor, hypoxia inducible factor-1 α (HIF-1α), with the inflammatory markers nuclear factor kappa B/p65 (NF-κB /P65) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in order to evaluate their role in inflammation associated breast cancer progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) mRNA expressions were evaluated using quantitative real time PCR and its protein expression by immunohistochemistry. DNA binding activity of NF-κB /P65 was evaluated by transcription factor binding immunoassay. Serum levels of ANGPTL4, HIF-1α and IL-1β were immunoassayed. Tumor clinico-pathological features were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ANGPTL4 mRNA expressions and serum levels were significantly higher in high grade breast carcinoma (1.47±0.31 and 184.98±18.18, respectively) compared to low grade carcinoma (1.21±0.32 and 171.76±7.58, respectively) and controls (0.70±0.02 and 65.34±6.41, respectively), (p<0.05). Also, ANGPTL4 high/moderate protein expression was positively correlated with tumor clinico-pathological features. In addition, serum levels of HIF-1α and IL-1β as well as NF-κB /P65 DNA binding activity were significantly higher in high grade breast carcinoma (148.54±14.20, 0.79±0.03 and 247.13±44.35 respectively) than their values in low grade carcinoma ( 139.14±5.83, 0.34±0.02 and 184.23±37.75, respectively) and controls (33.95±3.11, 0.11±0.02 and 7.83±0.92, respectively), (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ANGPTL4 high serum levels and tissue expressions in advanced grade breast cancer, in addition to its positive correlation with tumor clinico-pathological features and HIF-1α could highlight its role as one of the signaling factors involved in breast cancer progression. Moreover, novel correlations were found between ANGPTL4 and the inflammatory markers, IL-1β and NF-κB/p65, in breast cancer, which may emphasize the utility of these markers as potential tools for understanding interactions for axes of carcinogenesis and inflammation contributed for cancer progression. It is thus hoped that the findings reported here would assist in the development of new breast cancer management strategies that would promote patients' quality of life and ultimately improve clinical outcomes. However, large-scale studies are needed to verify these results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt E-mail : nohashafik2008@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Noha M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Shafik
authors.forename: Dareen A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Asmaa E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bedder
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: El-Gendy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000075803:Angiopoietin-Like Protein 4; D042682:Angiopoietins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: C474772:ANGPTL4 protein, human; D000075803:Angiopoietin-Like Protein 4; D042682:Angiopoietins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA