Reduced IL-37 gene expression and CD8 T lymphocytes in patients with metastatic breast cancer

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Farahani, Najmeh^a | Mohagheghi, Fathollah^b | Mosayebi, Ghasem^{a; c} | Ghazavi, Ali^{a; d} | Ganji, Ali^{a; c;}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Immunology & Microbiology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran | [b] Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran | [c] Molecular and Medicine Research Center, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran | [d] Traditional and Complementary Medicine Research Center (TCMRC), Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Ali Ganji, Molecular and Medicine Research Center, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran. Tel.: +98 34173548; Fax: +98 34173548; E-mail: aliganjy_1360@yahoo.com, a.ganji@arakmu.ac.ir. ORCIDs: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0284-8916 (F. Mohagheghi);https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3877-0783 (G. Mosayebi);https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4219-9594 (A. Ghazavi);https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2632-9889 (A. Ganji)

Abstract: BACKGROUND:The exact immunopathological mechanisms in the progression of breast cancer are not clearly understood, but various factors including CD8 T lymphocytes have lethal properties on tumor cells. On the other hand, interleukin-37 (IL-37), as a new member of the IL-1 family, is an anti-inflammatory cytokine. The exact role of IL-37 in breast cancer has not yet been determined. OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to evaluate the CD8 T lymphocytes count and IL-37 gene expression in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with and without metastasis. METHODS:In this study, blood samples from 36 metastatic and 36 non-metastatic breast cancer patients and 36 healthy individuals as control were collected. After RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, the relative gene expression was performed using real-time PCR. Also, counting the CD8 T lymphocytes was done by flow cytometry technique. RESULTS:The results of this study showed that the gene expression of IL-37 in blood samples of metastatic and non-metastatic breast cancer patients was significantly lower than in healthy individuals (P < 0.05). The relative gene expression of the IL-37 in ER+/PR+/HER2+ patients with non-metastatic breast cancer had a significant increase compared to HER2+ patients (P < 0.05). Also, CD8 T lymphocytes count in the samples of patients including non-metastatic and metastatic breast cancer was significantly decreased compared to the healthy individuals (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Our findings provide evidence that IL-37 gene expression and CD8 T lymphocytes count, significantly decreased in non-metastatic and metastatic breast cancer. Considering the possible effects of IL-37 on TCD8 cells in tumor immune responses, more research will be done to benefit from the therapeutic effects of this cytokine in the future.

Keywords: Metastatic breast cancer, IL-37, CD8 T lymphocytes

DOI: 10.3233/BD-201055

Journal: Breast Disease, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 235-240, 2021