Expression of cytokine messenger RNA in normal and neoplastic human breast tissue: Identification of interleukin-8 as a potential regulatory factor in breast tumours

Abstract

The presence of mRNA transcripts for cytokines in normal and neoplastic human breast tissue has been investigated. Using reverse transcriptase‐linked polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), we have specifically screened for the following cytokines: interleukin (IL)‐1α, IL‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐3, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐6, IL‐7, IL‐8, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, TNF‐β and interferon (IFN)‐γ. No significant differences in expression of IL‐1α, IL‐1β, IL‐4, IL‐6, TNF‐α or TNF‐β were observed between the 2 groups of tissues. However, there was a significant difference in expression of IL‐8 transcripts (p = 0.0017) which was higher in the neoplastic population. Transcripts for IL‐2, IL‐3, IL‐5, IL‐7 and IFN‐γ were not detected in either group. There was no evidence of associations between cytokine expression and tumour histological grade, patient age or lymph node metastases. Correlating tumour types with specific cytokine transcripts revealed high expression of IL‐8, and to a lesser extent, IL‐8 and TNF‐β irrespective of tumour origin. Analysis of primary epithelial and stromal cultures derived from both types of tissue showed that increased levels of IL‐8, but not IL‐6, were secreted by cells obtained from tumours. Thus, breast tissue of both normal and neoplastic origin expresses a wide range of cytokines. Increased or aberrant expression of cytokines, in particular IL‐8, may be involved in the development/progression of breast cancer. Int. J. Cancer 72:937–941, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Significance of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in breast cancer (review)

“…One, indicating IL-6 not to be associated with breast tumor disease, the second to be a positive prognosticator, and the third one suggesting IL-6 to be a negative prognosticator. The study of Green et al [38] support the first hypothesis. They analyzed the mRNA transcripts for different cytokines in normal and neoplastic human breast tissue and found 32 of 56 (57%) normal breast tissues and 44 out of 77 (58%) breast tumors to be positive for IL-6 with no significant difference in expression between the two groups of tissues.…”

Genetic Variation in IL-8 Associated with Increased Risk and Poor Prognosis of Breast Carcinoma

“…This suggests that autocrine and paracrine interactions between the stromal cells and the tumor cells might be mediated by IL-8. Green et al [23] examined 56 normal breast tissues and 73 neoplatic breast tissues for mRNA levels of 13 different cytokines. The only correlation found in this study was a higher IL-8 level in the neoplastic breast tissues than in the normal tissue (p ϭ 0.0017) [23].…”

Vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-8 are associated with poor prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer patients

“…Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a small (8 kDa) chemotactic cytokine mainly attracting and activating neutrophilic granulocytes, but it is also implicated in angiogenic events [8]. Local expression of IL-8 has been reported in several human tumor types, such as colorectal, breast, and prostate carcinomas [9][10][11].…”