Alternatively activated macrophages/mononuclear phagocytes promote growth and invasion of breast cancer cell line SKBR3 / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of alternatively activated macrophages /mononuclear phagocytes(MNP) on breast cancer cells and explore the mechanisms for the action of tumor-associated macrophages in breast cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human peripheral blood monocytes were isolated and cultured in vitro and divided into 3 groups, namely classically activated monocytes (CAM) which were induced by lipopolysaccharide, alternatively activated monocytes (AAM) induce by IL-4, and control cells treated with the culture medium only. After cell culture for 48-72 h, the mRNA of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), alternative monocytes activation- associated CC-chemokine 1 (AMAC-1), and beta-actin of the 3 groups were extracted for RT-PCR, or the cells were cocultured with breast cancer cell line SKBR3, or seeded in chicken chorioallantoic membrane along with SKBR3.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TNF-alpha mRNA was significantly increased in CAM, and AMAC-1 was highly expressed in AAM. The coculture experiments showed that CAM exhibited obvious inhibitory effect on SKBR3 cells after a 3-day culture whereas AAM significantly promoted the growth of SKBR3 cells after a 5-day culture. In chicken on chorioallantoic membrane experiment, the macrophages promoted tumor angiogenesis and AAM showed the most obvious effect.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IL-4 induces high expression of AMAC-1, a molecular marker of AAM, in the macrophages, and AAM can promote the growth of SKBR3 cells and tumor angiogenesis.</p>

Vector-mediated HER-2 RNA interference against HER-2-positive breast cancer / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the feasibility of vector-mediated RNA interference for HER-2-positive breast cancer therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A plasmid vector capable of mediating HER-2 RNA interference was constructed, and HER-2-positive breast cancer cell line SKBR-3 was transfected with this constructed vector. The expression of HER-2 mRNA and protein was analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blotting, and the growth and apoptosis of SKBR-3 cells was analyzed after transfection.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expressions of HER-2 mRNA and HER-2 protein was downregulated in response to vector-mediated HER-2 RNA interference, which also resulted in tumor cell growth inhibition and increased number apoptotic cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HER-2 is a good target for RNA interference and RNA interference targeting HER-2 can lead to HER-2 breast cancer cell apoptosis and growth inhibition.</p>