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The human breast cancer-associated protein, the prolactin-inducible protein (PIP), regulates intracellular signaling events and cytokine production by macrophages

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Abstract

The prolactin-inducible protein (PIP) is considered a valuable biomarker that is associated with both benign and malignant pathological conditions of the mammary gland. The function of PIP in breast tumorigenesis remains unknown; however, evidence from our laboratory and others suggest that it regulates host immunity. Studies with PIP-deficient (PIP−/−) mice demonstrated significantly lower numbers of CD4+ T cells in their secondary lymphoid organs, impaired Th1 response, and impaired nitric oxide (NO) production. To further delineate the immunoregulatory role of PIP, we compared the expression of IFN-γR and TLR4, pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and intracellular signaling events by IFN-γ and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages from wild-type (WT) and PIP−/− mice. We showed that although the expressions of IFN-γR and TLR4 were comparable, productions of pro-inflammatory cytokines were decreased in PIP−/− macrophages. This was associated with decreased phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and signal transducer of activation of transcription (STAT) proteins in macrophages from PIP−/− mice. Interestingly, the expression of suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 1 and 3 proteins, known to suppress IFN-γ and LPS signaling, was higher in PIP−/− macrophages compared to those from WT mice. Collectively, our studies show that deficiency of PIP significantly affects intracellular signaling events leading to decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and further confirms a role for PIP as an important immunoregulatory protein. This direct link between PIP and cell-mediated immunity, a key component of the immune system that is critical for cancer control, may have significant therapeutic implications.

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Funding

This study was supported by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Manitoba Health Research Council (MHRC), and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    Olivia Ihedioha, Anne A. Blanchard & Yvonne Myal

  2. Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    Anne A. Blanchard & Yvonne Myal

  3. Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    Jyoti Balhara, Ifeoma Okwor, Ping Jia & Jude Uzonna

  4. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Jyoti Balhara

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  1. Olivia Ihedioha
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  2. Anne A. Blanchard
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Correspondence to Jude Uzonna.

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The University of Manitoba Animal Care and Use Committee approved this project. All the mice used were maintained at the Central Animal Care Services under specific pathogen-free conditions and used according to guidelines stipulated by the Canadian Council for Animal Care.

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Ihedioha, O., Blanchard, A.A., Balhara, J. et al. The human breast cancer-associated protein, the prolactin-inducible protein (PIP), regulates intracellular signaling events and cytokine production by macrophages. Immunol Res 66, 245–254 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-018-8987-6

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