Abstract A100: Helicobacter hepaticus contributes to mammary gland carcinogenesis through bacterial translocation and subsequent expansion of cancer-promoting myeloid-derived suppressor cells
Authors: Chen Xiaowei , Worthley Daniel L. , Ge Zhongming , Tailor Yagnesh , Kaufman Christian , Cheaney Lenzie , Kline Lesley , Valeriano Gladys Y. , Westphalen Christoph B. , Erdman Susan E. , Fox James G. , Wang Timothy C. 
Published: May 2015

Introduction: Gastrointestinal (GI) tract dysbiosis and resulting inflammation are implicated in breast carcinogenesis. CD11b+GR1+ myeloid- derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are important drivers of breast cancer. Here we report that in APCMin/+ mice treated with enteric Helicobacter hepaticus (H. hepaticus) MDSCs cells are dramatically expanded and, along with the pathogen H. hepaticus, are directly recruited to mammary gland lymph node, where they suppress anti-carcinogenic cytotoxic T-cells and promote procarcinogenic inflammation, respectively.

Methods: In our H. hepaticus and specific pathogen free colony we inoculated female APCMin/+ mice with H. hepaticus and compared neoplastic and inflammatory outcomes to the non-infected controls.

Results: Successful infection was confirmed by H. hepaticus specific qPCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). H. hepaticus was identified not only within the small intestine but also within the mammary gland lymph node and mammary tumor tissue of the treated group. In APCMin/+ mice treated with chow diet, H. hepaticus-induced procarcinogenic CD11b+GR1+ cells within the lamina propria of the small intestine, the surrounding mesenteric lymph nodes, the spleen, peripheral blood and the mammary gland lymph nodes. In H. hepaticus infected mice, this was accompanied by increased splenic expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and GM-CSF and the increased expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and GM-CSF, IL-23a and IL-17a in the small intestine. Interestingly, adding high fat diet to H. hepaticus infected mice appeared to further promote the trafficking of MDSCs from the spleen into the peripheral blood and regional lymph nodes with increased serum inflammatory cytokines production cytokines, including IL-6. This appears to have been mediated, at least in part, by adipocyte signaling to myeloid precursors.

Conclusions: We show the presence of H. hepaticus in mammary gland and intestine, which correlated with mammary gland tumor incidence and increased intestinal tumor multiplicity. The co-existence of enteric H. hepaticus infection appears to promote mammary tumorigenesis through upregulation of IL-1β, IL-6 and GM-CSF and the resulting trafficking of tumor promoting CD11b+GR1+ MDSCs. We are currently examining the route and broader relevance of H. hepaticus extra-intestinal translocation and whether this has direct effects on tumorigenesis, consistent with findings in other Helicobacter spp.

Citation Format: Xiaowei Chen, Daniel L. Worthley, Zhongming Ge, Yagnesh Tailor, Christian Kaufman, Lenzie Cheaney, Lesley Kline, Gladys Y. Valeriano, Christoph B. Westphalen, Susan E. Erdman, James G. Fox, Timothy C. Wang. Helicobacter hepaticus contributes to mammary gland carcinogenesis through bacterial translocation and subsequent expansion of cancer-promoting myeloid-derived suppressor cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Breast Cancer Research: Genetics, Biology, and Clinical Applications; Oct 3-6, 2013; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2013;11(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A100.