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Tissue remodelling in breast cancer: human mast cell tryptase as an initiator of myofibroblast differentiation
Author(s) -
Mangia Anita,
Malfettone Andrea,
Rossi Roberta,
Paradiso Angelo,
Ranieri Girolamo,
Simone Giovanni,
Resta Leonardo
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2011.03842.x
Subject(s) - myofibroblast , cd34 , tryptase , stromal cell , pathology , chymase , cancer associated fibroblasts , mast cell , chemistry , immunohistochemistry , cancer research , cancer cell , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer , medicine , immunology , fibrosis , stem cell
Mangia A, Malfettone A, Rossi R, Paradiso A, Ranieri G, Simone G & Resta L
(2011) Histopathology 58, 1096–1106
Tissue remodelling in breast cancer: human mast cell tryptase as an initiator of myofibroblast differentiation Aims: Cancerogenesis is characterized by increase of differentiated myofibroblasts. Mast cells (MCs) exert powerful effects on fibroblasts through a variety of mediators. We investigated α‐smooth‐muscle actin (α‐SMA + ) and CD34 + fibroblasts, density of toluidine blue‐stained (MCs‐TB) and tryptase‐immunolabelled MCs (MCs‐Try) in 30 primary breast tumours. Methods and results: Tumour (T), peri‐tumoral (PT) and non‐tumoral (NT) tissue was studied by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. MCs‐TB and MCs‐Try increased gradually from NT to PT and T and the comparison between the three compartments varied significantly. Degranulated MCs were present more significantly in NT and adjacent PT than T. Transition between NT, PT and T was marked by increasing α‐SMA + fibroblasts and slow disappearance of CD34 + stromal cells. In NT, CD34 + fibroblasts correlated with low density both of MCs‐TB and intact MCs‐Try ( P = 0.0346 and P = 0.0409, respectively). In T, the few preserved CD34 + fibroblasts were associated with low‐density degranulated MCs‐Try ( P = 0.0173). The α‐SMA + fibroblasts correlated with high density of intact MCs‐Try in PT, and with high density of degranulated MCs‐Try in T ( P = 0.0289), also confirmed by ultrastructural analysis. Conclusions: This preliminary investigation suggests that during breast cancer progression the MCs may contribute to stromal remodelling and differentiation of myofibroblasts, through tryptase released in stromal microenvironment.