TY - JOUR
T1 - Toll-like receptor expression in normal ovary and ovarian tumors
AU - Zhou, Mingfu
AU - McFarland-Mancini, Molly M.
AU - Funk, Holly M.
AU - Husseinzadeh, Nader
AU - Mounajjed, Taofic
AU - Drew, Angela F.
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgments We gratefully acknowledge the expert assistance of Glenn Doerman and Maryellen Daston with graphics and editing of the manuscript, respectively. The 3EconAluc plasmid was kindly provided by Dr. Diaz-Meco, University of Cincinnati. This study was supported by a pilot project grant from the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center (AFD) and RSG-0614101CSM from the American Cancer Society (AFD).
Copyright:
Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2009/9
Y1 - 2009/9
N2 - Recent studies have implicated inflammation in the initiation and progression of ovarian cancer, though the mechanisms underlying this effect are still not clear. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) allow immune cells to recognize pathogens and to trigger inflammatory responses. Tumor cell expression of TLRs can promote inflammation and cell survival in the tumor microenvironment. Here we sought to characterize the expression of TLRs in normal human ovaries, benign and malignant ovarian tumors from patients, and in established ovarian tumor cell lines. We report that TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, and TLR5 are strongly expressed on the surface epithelium of normal ovaries. In contrast to previous studies of uterus and endocervix, we found no cyclic variation in TLR expression occurred in murine ovaries. TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, and TLR5 are expressed in benign conditions, epithelial tumors, and in ovarian cancer cell lines. Variable expression of TLR6 and TLR8 was seen in benign and malignant epithelium of some patients, while expression of TLR1, TLR7, and TLR9 was weak. Normal and malignant ovarian stroma were negative for TLR expression. Vascular endothelial cells, macrophages, and occasional fibroblasts in tumors were positive. Functional activity for TLRs was demonstrated by stimulation of cell lines with specific ligands and subsequent activation and translocation of NFκB and release of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and CCL-2. These studies demonstrate expression of multiple TLRs in the epithelium of normal ovaries and in ovarian tumor cells, and may indicate a mechanism by which epithelial tumors manipulate inflammatory pathways to facilitate tumor progression.
AB - Recent studies have implicated inflammation in the initiation and progression of ovarian cancer, though the mechanisms underlying this effect are still not clear. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) allow immune cells to recognize pathogens and to trigger inflammatory responses. Tumor cell expression of TLRs can promote inflammation and cell survival in the tumor microenvironment. Here we sought to characterize the expression of TLRs in normal human ovaries, benign and malignant ovarian tumors from patients, and in established ovarian tumor cell lines. We report that TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, and TLR5 are strongly expressed on the surface epithelium of normal ovaries. In contrast to previous studies of uterus and endocervix, we found no cyclic variation in TLR expression occurred in murine ovaries. TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, and TLR5 are expressed in benign conditions, epithelial tumors, and in ovarian cancer cell lines. Variable expression of TLR6 and TLR8 was seen in benign and malignant epithelium of some patients, while expression of TLR1, TLR7, and TLR9 was weak. Normal and malignant ovarian stroma were negative for TLR expression. Vascular endothelial cells, macrophages, and occasional fibroblasts in tumors were positive. Functional activity for TLRs was demonstrated by stimulation of cell lines with specific ligands and subsequent activation and translocation of NFκB and release of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and CCL-2. These studies demonstrate expression of multiple TLRs in the epithelium of normal ovaries and in ovarian tumor cells, and may indicate a mechanism by which epithelial tumors manipulate inflammatory pathways to facilitate tumor progression.
KW - Epithelium
KW - Inflammation
KW - NF κB
KW - Ovarian tumor
KW - Ovary
KW - Toll-like receptor
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U2 - 10.1007/s00262-008-0650-y
DO - 10.1007/s00262-008-0650-y
M3 - Article
C2 - 19184006
AN - SCOPUS:67649644553
SN - 0340-7004
VL - 58
SP - 1375
EP - 1385
JO - Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy
JF - Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy
IS - 9
ER -