MicroRNA-21 is immunosuppressive and pro-metastatic via separate mechanisms.

MiR-21 was identified as a gene whose expression correlated with the extent of metastasis of murine mammary tumours. Since miR-21 is recognised as being associated with poor prognosis in cancer, we investigated its contribution to mammary tumour growth and metastasis in tumours with capacity for spontaneous metastasis. Unexpectedly, we found that suppression of miR-21 activity in highly metastatic tumours resulted in regression of primary tumour growth in immunocompetent mice but did not impede growth in immunocompromised mice. Analysis of the immune infiltrate of the primary tumours at the time when the tumours started to regress revealed an influx of both CD4+ and CD8+ activated T cells and a reduction in PD-L1+ infiltrating monocytes, providing an explanation for the observed tumour regression. Loss of anti-tumour immune suppression caused by decreased miR-21 activity was confirmed by transcriptomic analysis of primary tumours. This analysis also revealed reduced expression of genes associated with cell cycle progression upon loss of miR-21 activity. A second activity of miR-21 was the promotion of metastasis as shown by the loss of metastatic capacity of miR-21 knockdown tumours established in immunocompromised mice, despite no impact on primary tumour growth. A proteomic analysis of tumour cells with altered miR-21 activity revealed deregulation of proteins known to be associated with tumour progression. The development of therapies targeting miR-21, possibly via targeted delivery to tumour cells, could be an effective therapy to combat primary tumour growth and suppress the development of metastatic disease.

Functional and molecular characterisation of EO771.LMB tumours, a new C57BL/6-mouse-derived model of spontaneously metastatic mammary cancer.

The translation of basic research into improved therapies for breast cancer patients requires relevant preclinical models that incorporate spontaneous metastasis. We have completed a functional and molecular characterisation of a new isogenic C57BL/6 mouse model of breast cancer metastasis, comparing and contrasting it with the established BALB/c 4T1 model. Metastatic EO771.LMB tumours were derived from poorly metastatic parental EO771 mammary tumours. Functional differences were evaluated using both in vitro assays and spontaneous metastasis assays in mice. Results were compared to non-metastatic 67NR and metastatic 4T1.2 tumours of the 4T1 model. Protein and transcript levels of markers of human breast cancer molecular subtypes were measured in the four tumour lines, as well as p53 (Tp53) tumour-suppressor gene status and responses to tamoxifen in vivo and in vitro. Array-based expression profiling of whole tumours identified genes and pathways that were deregulated in metastatic tumours. EO771.LMB cells metastasised spontaneously to lung in C57BL/6 mice and displayed increased invasive capacity compared with parental EO771. By immunohistochemical assessment, EO771 and EO771.LMB were basal-like, as was the 4T1.2 tumour, whereas 67NR had a luminal phenotype. Primary tumours from all lines were negative for progesterone receptor, Erb-b2/Neu and cytokeratin 5/6, but positive for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Only 67NR displayed nuclear estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) positivity. EO771 and EO771.LMB expressed mutant p53, whereas 67NR and 4T1.2 were p53-null. Integrated molecular analysis of both the EO771/EO771.LMB and 67NR/4T1.2 pairs indicated that upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), parathyroid hormone-like hormone (Pthlh) and S100 calcium binding protein A8 (S100a8) and downregulation of the thrombospondin receptor (Cd36) might be causally involved in metastatic dissemination of breast cancer.

A cysteine proteinase inhibitor purified from apple fruit.

A cysteine proteinase inhibitor has been purified from immature fruit of Malus domestica (var. Royal Gala). The M(r) of this apple cystatin is estimated to be 10,700 by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, 11 300 by SDS-PAGE and 11,000 by gel filtration. It is a relatively strong inhibitor of papain with a Ki value of 0.21 nM and also inhibits ficin and bromelain but not cathepsin B. An amino acid sequence was obtained from a peptide produced by trypsin digestion of the inhibitor. Comparison with other plant sequences shows a high degree of homology with other phytocystatins. As the single cysteine proteinase inhibitor detectable in immature apple fruit (5-8 mm diameter), levels of 83.3 pmol/g FW were determined. In larger fruit (up to 16 mm diameter) significantly less inhibitor was present (6.9 pmol/g FW). Given these low levels, it is postulated that this inhibitor has an endogenous role in apple fruit development rather than one of protection against pest or microbial attack.