Atrazine promotes breast cancer development by suppressing immune function and upregulating MMP expression

作者：Mengqi Wang, Junyu Chen, Shuhua Zhao, Jingying Zheng, Kang He, Wei Liu, Weixin Zhao, Jingze Li, Kai Wang, Yuru Wang, Jian Liu, Lijing Zhao · 发表于：Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114691 · 被引用次数：27 · 研究领域：Cancer Research and Treatments、Inflammatory mediators and NSAID effects、Retinoids in leukemia and cellular processes

There is evidence that the triazine herbicide atrazine, which is used extensively, is present in both surface water and groundwater, and its interfering effect on immune systems, endocrine systems, and tumours has been reported by laboratory and epidemiological studies. This study explored how atrazine affected 4T1 breast cancer cell development in vitro and in vivo. The obtained results showed that after exposure to atrazine, the cell proliferation and tumour volume were significantly increased and the expression of MMP2, MMP7, and MMP9 was upregulated. The thymus and spleen indices, the CD4 + and CD3 + lymphocyte percentages which from the spleen and inguinal lymph nodes, and the CD4 + /CD8 + ratio were noticeably lower than they were in the control group. Importantly, tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes such as CD4 + , CD8 + , and NK cells were decreased while Treg cells were increased. Moreover, IL-4 was increased and IFN-γ and TNF-α were decreased in the serum and tumour microenvironment. These results suggested that atrazine can suppress systemic as well as local tumour immune function and upregulate MMPs to promote breast tumour development.