Metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 regulates inflammation in triple negative breast cancer

Sci Rep. 2018 Oct 30;8(1):16008. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-34502-8.

Abstract

Breast cancer remains a major cause of death among women. 15% of these cancers are triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive subtype of breast cancer for which no current effective targeted therapy exists. We have previously demonstrated a role for mGluR1 in mediating tumor cell growth, endothelial cell proliferation, and tumor-induced angiogenesis in TNBC. In this study, we explore a role for mGluR1 in regulating inflammation in TNBC. GRM1 expression was silenced in MDA-MB-231 cells to study changes in expression of inflammatory genes regulated by mGluR1. Results were confirmed by ELISA using GRM1-silenced and overexpressed cells and mGluR1 inhibitors. A functional role for these differentially expressed genes was determined in vitro and in vivo. 131 genes were differentially expressed in GRM1-silenced MDA-MB-231 cells, with some of these falling into four major canonical pathways associated with acute inflammation, specifically leukocyte migration/chemotaxis. Upregulation of three of these genes (CXCL1, IL6, IL8) and their corresponding protein was confirmed by qPCR analysis and ELISA in GRM1-manipulated TNBC cells. Upregulation of these cytokines enhanced endothelial adhesion and transmigration of neutrophils in co-culture assays and in 4T1 mouse tumors. Our results suggest mGluR1 may serve as a novel endogenous regulator of inflammation in TNBC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / genetics*
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Mice
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate
  • metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1