PKM2对乳腺癌细胞有氧糖酵解、增殖和凋亡的影响

[目的]探讨siRNA介导的PKM2基因沉默对乳腺癌细胞中有氧糖酵解、细胞增殖和凋亡产生的影响。[方法]荧光定量PCR检测乳腺癌细胞转染siRNA-PKM2的效率,葡萄糖和乳酸试剂盒及Western Blot检测细胞的糖酵解能力,CCK-8法检测细胞增殖能力,Western Blot检测细胞的凋亡状况。[结果]与对照组相比,转染PKM2的siRNA 48h后,细胞摄取葡萄糖量及乳酸分泌量均明显降低(P0.05),两种与糖酵解相关的蛋白Glut1和PFK-1表达量均降低;细胞增殖速率减慢(P0.05);抗凋亡蛋白bcl-x L蛋白表达降低,促凋亡蛋白caspase-9蛋白表达增多。[结论]siRNA介导的PKM2基因沉默能抑制乳腺癌细胞的有氧糖酵解及增殖能力,并促进细胞凋亡。     

LDHB调控PDK1/Akt/GSK3β信号通路促进脑胶质瘤细胞生长的研究

该研究旨在探讨乳酸脱氢酶B(lactate dehydrogenase B,LDHB)基因对胶质瘤细胞生长的影响。用sh-LDHB或sh-EGFP质粒转染胶质瘤细胞,q RT-PCR和Western blot分别检测m RNA和蛋白质水平,CCK-8法和克隆形成实验分析细胞增殖能力,流式细胞术检测细胞周期和凋亡情况。结果表明,转染sh-LDHB质粒后,脑胶质瘤细胞中LDHB的m RNA和蛋白质水平显著降低。敲低LDHB基因后,脑胶质瘤细胞的增殖能力明显降低,出现细胞凋亡峰(sub-G1),细胞增殖相关基因c-Myc和Cylin D1表达水平降低,同时,PDK1、Akt和GSK3β的磷酸化水平降低。研究结果表明,LDHB基因可以通过激活PDK1/Akt/GSK3β信号通路促进脑胶质瘤细胞的生长。     

探讨髓系白血病细胞株糖酵解表型特征

探讨髓系白血病细胞株的糖酵解表型特征及其潜在的调控机制。葡萄糖试剂盒和乳酸试剂盒分别检测5株白血病细胞培养上清液中的葡萄糖消耗（G）和乳酸生成含量（L）,计算L／G比值来评估糖酵解水平：定量PCR检测糖酵解相关基因GLUT、MCTlmRNA表达;CCK8法检测细胞体外增殖能力;Western blot检测NAKT蛋白磷酸化水平。结果显示,KG1和K562细胞体外培养24h后的L／G比值分别为1．78和1．71,接近糖酵解表型时L／G为2的比值,同时这两株细胞高表达糖酵解相关基因GLUTl和MCT1mRNA。低糖（0．5mmol／L）、中糖（5mmol／L）、高糖（10mmol／L）处理KGla和K562细胞40h后,两株细胞的增殖能力、葡萄糖消耗和乳酸生成随葡萄糖浓度增加而增强,高糖组增加更为显著（P〈0．05）。相反,若糖酵解抑制剂2-DG（0,5,10mmol／L）处理白血病细胞40h后,两株细胞的增殖能力及糖酵解代谢水平随2．DG浓度增加而降低,高浓度2．DG组（10mmol／L）降低更为显著（P〈0．05）。此外,AKT抑制剂低浓度（5gmol／L）短时间（12h）处理后能抑制白血病细胞AKT蛋白磷酸化水平,同时降低细胞的葡萄糖消耗和乳酸生成（P〈0．05）。该研究提示髓系白血病细胞具有高糖酵解表型,AKT可能参与调控白血病的糖代谢过程,这有助于阐明白血病的能量代谢特征以及为白血病的靶向抗代谢治疗奠定基础。     

雌激素受体GPER通过抑制内质网应激减轻脑缺血再灌注损伤

本文旨在研究G蛋白耦联雌激素受体(G protein-coupled estrogen receptor, GPER)是否通过作用于内质网应激(endoplasmic reticulum stress, ERS)减轻脑缺血再灌注损伤(cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, CIRI)中的海马神经元损伤。采用大脑中动脉栓塞法(middle cerebral artery occlusion, MCAO)制备CIRI动物模型。选取雌性去卵巢(ovariectomized, OVX) Sprague-Dawley(SD)大鼠,随机分为4组:对照(Control)组、缺血再灌注损伤(MCAO)组、溶媒(MCAO+DMSO)组、GPER特异性激动剂G1(MCAO+G1)组。用Longa评分法对大鼠进行神经行为学评分,用尼氏染色法观察神经元形态学改变,用TTC染色法检测脑梗死情况,用TUNEL染色法检测海马CA1区神经元凋亡情况,用免疫荧光染色技术观察海马CA1区GRP78 (78 kDa glucoseregulatedprotein78)的分布和表达,用Westernblot检测GRP78、Caspase-12、CHOP和Caspase-3蛋白表达水平,用real-time PCR检测GRP78、Caspase-12、CHOPmRNA水平。结果显示,与对照组相比,MCAO组大鼠神经行为学评分、脑梗死体积、细胞凋亡指数、GRP78、Caspase-12和CHOP蛋白和mRNA表达水平均显著升高。而G1可逆转MCAO组大鼠的上述变化。以上结果提示,激活GPER可减少神经元凋亡,减轻大鼠CIRI,其机制可能涉及GPER对ERS的抑制。     

CDK4基因沉默对非小细胞肺癌A549 增殖和代谢的影响

目的:通过特异性小干扰RNA(small interfering RNA,si RNA),使CDK4基因沉默,探讨该基因沉默对肺癌A549细胞增殖和代谢的影响及其可能的作用机制。方法:将靶向CDK4小干扰RNA(si RNA-CDK4)和阴性对照干扰片段(si RNA-control)成功转染A549细胞后,利用实时荧光定量PCR和蛋白质免疫印迹法分别检测CDK4在m RNA和蛋白水平的变化;细胞计数法、CCK-8法和软琼脂糖克隆形成实验检测A549增殖的变化和克隆形成能力;FCM法检测A549细胞的细胞周期;18F-FDG摄取实验、乳酸检测试剂盒及海马技术检测A549细胞中葡萄糖、乳酸的量及氧耗的变化;利用RT-PCR检测CDK4基因沉默后A549细胞中糖代谢相关酶m RNA水平的变化。结果:将靶向CDK4小干扰RNA(si RNA-CDK4)转染A549细胞后,可明显抑制CDK4的m RNA和蛋白表达(P0.001,P0.01)。CDK4蛋白抑制后,细胞增殖在48、72和96 h均明显降低(P值均0.05),G1期细胞比例明显增多,S期细胞比例明显减少(P值均0.05);18F-FDG摄取量下降(42.21±1.90)%(P0.05),乳酸的生成量减少(29.39±5.35)%(P0.05),而细胞的基础耗氧量增加(67.17±3.58)%(P0.01);糖酵解相关酶PFKFB3、PKM2、LDHA在m RNA水平均明显减低(P0.001,P0.01,P0.001)。结论:抑制CDK4表达可明显降低糖酵解水平,并增加耗氧量;同时可引起细胞周期阻滞,抑制肿瘤细胞增殖。其机制可能与CDK4直接或间接调节糖酵解相关酶的表达有关。     

雌激素膜受体GPER1 通过调节Nrf2 减轻心肌氧化损伤

目的:观察雌激素膜受体GPER1对心肌细胞氧化损伤的保护作用,并探讨其通过PI3K/Akt信号通路上调Nrf2,减轻心肌氧化损伤的机制。方法:H_2O_2处理原代培养的新生大鼠心肌细胞建立氧化损伤模型,分为对照组、H_2O_2处理组,GPER1受体激动剂G1预处理+H_2O_2处理组和GPER1拮抗剂G15+G1预处理+H_2O_2处理组,MTT检测细胞活性,Hoechst33342染色和cleaved caspase-3免疫荧光染色观察细胞凋亡,并检测细胞内氧自由基,总抗氧化能力,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和丙二醛(MDA)的水平。Western blot测定细胞中p-Akt和细胞核内Nrf2的水平。结果:G1显著抑制H_2O_2导致细胞活性下降和细胞凋亡,并降低细胞内氧自由基水平,提高总抗氧化能力,增加SOD活性,减少MDA含量,但G15能拮抗G1的上述效应。同时G1能增加细胞内Akt磷酸化水平和细胞核内Nrf2的表达,这些效应可被G15和LY-294002阻断。结论:GPER1通过PI3K/Akt信号通路,调节Nrf2的表达,抑制氧化应激导致的心肌细胞损伤。GPER1可以作为开发心肌缺血损伤保护剂的一个潜在靶点。     

G蛋白偶联雌激素受体介导17β-雌二醇抗血管平滑肌细胞氧化应激性衰老

目的探讨G蛋白偶联雌激素受体(GPER)能否介导雌激素抗大鼠血管平滑肌细胞(vascular smooth muscle cells,VSMCs)氧化应激性衰老效应。方法取体外培养第3~4代VSMCs,以150μmol/L H_2O_2处理2h建立细胞衰老模型。用10~(-8)mol/L17β-雌二醇(E_2)、10~(-6)mol/LGPER激动剂G1和抑制剂G15分别处理VSMCs。衰老相关β-半乳糖苷酶(SA-β-Gal)染色法检测各组细胞SA-β-Gal染色阳性率;流式细胞术检测各组细胞周期变化;RT-qPCR和Western blot检测GPERmRNA和蛋白表达变化。结果 H_2O_2使VSMCs SA-β-Gal染色阳性率明显增加,细胞周期停滞于G0/G1期,GPER mRNA和蛋白水平降低,E2和G1对H_2O_2的这些效应具有抑制作用,而G15可阻断E2和G1对H_2O_2上述效应的抑制作用。结论雌激素依赖GPER发挥抗血管平滑肌细胞氧化应激性衰老效应。     

miR-148a通过靶向调节己糖激酶2基因抑制乳腺癌细胞糖酵解和细胞增殖能力

为了探讨miR-148a及己糖激酶2（hexokinase 2,HK2）基因对人乳腺癌细胞糖酵解代谢途径的影响和可能机制,利用实时荧光定量PCR（real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR,qRT-PCR）检测多种乳腺癌细胞系中miR-148a的表达量,从中筛选miR-148a表达量相对较低的乳腺癌细胞系作为研究对象。再通过观察miR-148a表达量的变化对乳腺癌细胞葡萄糖摄取量、乳酸生成量和细胞增殖指标的影响,以探究miR-148a对乳腺癌细胞糖代谢能力的影响。随后,通过TargetScan在线数据库预测miR-148a和HK2基因的靶向关系,再通过双荧光素酶报告实验、Western免疫印迹以及基因回复实验进行验证,以进一步明确miR-148a和HK2在乳腺癌细胞的糖酵解代谢途径中的作用机制。通过qRT-PCR发现miR-148a在多种乳腺癌细胞系表达降低,尤其是在乳腺癌细胞系MDA-MB231中表达量显著降低（P<0.000 1）。过表达miR-148a使MDA-MB231细胞的葡萄糖摄取量、乳酸生成量、细胞增殖指标均显著下降（P<0.01）;而抑制miR-148a表达使MDA-MB231细胞葡萄糖摄取量、乳酸生成量、细胞增殖指标均显著上升（P<0.01）。通过TargetScan在线数据库预测得出,miR-148a与HK2基因3′非编码区（3′-untranslated region,3′-UTR）具有部分结合位点;而双荧光素酶报告实验发现miR-148a与野生型HK2基因的3′-UTR荧光素酶报告载体结合,不与突变型HK2基因的3′-UTR结合。Western免疫印迹检测结果表明,过表达miR-148a使MDA-MB231细胞中HK2蛋白表达量显著下降（P＜0.000 1）,而抑制miR-148a表达则促进HK2蛋白表达量显著上升（P<0.05）。基因回复实验显示,过表达HK2基因使MDA-MB231乳腺癌细胞的葡萄糖摄取量、乳酸生成量、细胞增殖指标显著上升（P＜0.01）;将过表达miR-148a载体与过表达HK2载体共转染MDA-MB231细胞,miR-148a逆转了HK2所致的葡萄糖摄取量增加和乳酸生成量上升,并抑制细胞增殖。因此,研究提示,miR-148a可通过靶向抑制HK2基因表达而抑制乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB231糖酵解代谢和细胞增殖。     

CD47基因对食道癌细胞增殖的影响

本研究将CD47-si RNA转染至食道癌细胞,采用蛋白免疫印迹检测食道癌细胞中CD47蛋白的表达,MTT法检测CD47-siRNA转染组和空质粒转染组(对照组)食道癌细胞增殖状态,蛋白免疫印迹检测CD47-siRNA转染组和空质粒转染组(对照组)食道癌细胞中PCNA蛋白表达,DCFDA染色流式细胞仪检测食道癌细胞CD47-siRNA转染组和空质粒转染组(对照组)中ROS水平,以探究CD47基因对食道癌发生发展的影响。研究结果表明,CD47-si RNA转染组食道癌细胞中CD47蛋白明显低于对照组;CD47-siRNA转染组食道癌细胞增殖率显著低于对照组(p<0.05);CD47-siRNA转染组细胞增殖相关蛋白PCNA低于对照组(p<0.01);CD47-siRNA转染组食道癌细胞中ROS水平明显高于对照组(p<0.05)。本研究初步认为:CD47-siRNA可降低食道癌细胞中CD47蛋白表达,抑制食道癌细胞的增殖并增加食道癌细胞中ROS水平。     

Pten基因沉默可抑制子宫内膜细胞增殖

本研究将Pten-siRNA转染至子宫内膜细胞,通过蛋白免疫印迹检测子宫内膜细胞中Pten蛋白的表达情况;通过MTT法检测Pten-siRNA转染组和空质粒转染组(对照组)细胞增殖状态;通过蛋白免疫印迹检测Pten-siRNA转染组和对照组子宫内膜细胞中PCNA、Ki67蛋白表达情况;通过流式细胞仪检测子宫内膜细胞Pten-siRNA转染组和对照组中ROS的水平,以探究Pten基因对子宫内膜癌发生发展的影响。研究表明,Pten-siRNA转染后,子宫内膜细胞中Pten蛋白明显低于对照组;Pten-siRNA转染后,子宫内膜细胞增殖率显著高于对照组(p<0.05);Pten-siRNA转染后,细胞增殖相关蛋白PCNA和Ki67明显高于对照组(p<0.05);Pten-siRNA转染后,子宫内膜细胞中ROS水平明显低于对照组(p<0.05)。本研究初步结论显示Pten-siRNA可降低子宫内膜细胞中Pten蛋白表达,抑制子宫内膜细胞的增殖并增加子宫内膜细胞中ROS水平。     

Regulation of PDK mRNA by high fatty acid and glucose in pancreatic islets

Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) converts pyruvate to acetyl-CoA, links glycolysis to the Krebs cycle, and plays an important role in glucose metabolism and insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells. In beta cells from obese and Type 2 diabetic animals, PDH activity is significantly reduced. PDH is negatively regulated by multiple pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) isotypes (PDK subtypes 1-4). However, we do not know whether fatty acids or high glucose modulate PDKs in islets. To test this we determined PDH and PDK activities and PDK gene and protein expression in C57BL/6 mouse islets. Both high palmitate and high glucose reduced active PDH activity and increased PDK activity. The gene and protein for PDK3 were not expressed in islets. Palmitate up-regulated mRNA expression of PDK1 (2.9-fold), PDK2 (1.9-fold), and PDK4 (3.1-fold). High glucose increased PDK1 (1.8-fold) and PDK2 (2.7-fold) mRNA expression but reduced PDK4 mRNA expression by 40 percent in cultured islets. Changed PDK expression was confirmed by Western blotting. These results demonstrate that in islet cells both fat and glucose regulate PDK gene and protein expression and indicate that hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia contribute to the decline in diabetic islet PDH activity by increasing mRNA and protein expression of PDK.     

Hexokinase 2 regulates G1/S checkpoint through CDK2 in cancer-associated fibroblasts

Hexokinase 2 (HK2), a pivotal glycolytic enzyme, is often overexpressed in tumor cells and contributes to glycolysis. Emerging evidence has suggested that glycolysis is also enhanced in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). However, it is not clear whether HK2 is involved in enhanced glycolysis in CAFs or what role HK2 plays in the CAFs. In this study, both time course experiments and dose response experiments demonstrated that the protein and mRNA levels of HK2 increase in CAF cells, according to western blot and quantitative PCR analyses, respectively. Additionally, miR-182 targets the 3′ UTR of HK2, and its overexpression results in the degradation of HK2 mRNA, which eventually reduces the level of HK2 protein. On the other hand, knockdown of miR-182 increased the expression of HK2. Most importantly, HK2 regulated the protein level and T14 phosphorylation of CDK2, and knockdown of HK2 resulted in a G1 phase cell cycle arrest. These observations suggest that HK2 plays important roles in glycolysis regulation and in cell cycle checkpoint activation.     

G-Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor Agonist Suppresses Airway Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Asthma through IL-10

Estrogen influences the disease severity and sexual dimorphism in asthma, which is caused by complex mechanisms. Besides classical nuclear estrogen receptors (ERαβ), G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) was recently established as an estrogen receptor on the cell membrane. Although GPER is associated with immunoregulatory functions of estrogen, the pathophysiological role of GPER in allergic inflammatory lung disease has not been examined. We investigated the effect of GPER-specific agonist G-1 in asthmatic mice. GPER expression in asthmatic lung was confirmed by immunofluorescent staining. OVA-sensitized BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice were treated with G-1 by daily subcutaneous injections during an airway challenge phase, followed by histological and biochemical examination. Strikingly, administration of G-1 attenuated airway hyperresponsiveness, accumulation of inflammatory cells, and levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-5 and IL-13) in BAL fluid. G-1 treatment also decreased serum levels of anti-OVA IgE antibodies. The frequency of splenic Foxp3⁺CD4⁺ regulatory T cells and IL-10-producing GPER⁺CD4⁺ T cells was significantly increased in G-1-treated mice. Additionally, splenocytes isolated from G-1-treated mice showed greater IL-10 production. G-1-induced amelioration of airway inflammation and IgE production were abolished in IL-10-deficient mice. Taken together, these results indicate that extended GPER activation negatively regulates the acute asthmatic condition by altering the IL-10-producing lymphocyte population. The current results have potential importance for understanding the mechanistic aspects of function of estrogen in allergic inflammatory response.     

Estradiol and GPER Activation Differentially Affect Cell Proliferation but Not GPER Expression in the Hippocampus of Adult Female Rats

Estradiol increases cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of the female rodent but it is not known whether the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), a membrane receptor, is involved in this process, nor whether there are regional differences in estradiol’s effects on cell proliferation. Thus, we investigated whether estradiol exerts its effects on cell proliferation in the dorsal and ventral dentate gyrus through GPER, using the GPER agonist, G1, and antagonist, G15. Ovariectomized adult female rats received a single injection of either: 17β-estradiol (10 μg), G1 (0.1, 5, 10 μg), G15 (40 μg), G15 and estradiol, or vehicle (oil, DMSO, or oil+DMSO). After 30 min, animals received an injection of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and were perfused 24 h later. Acute treatment with estradiol increased, while the GPER agonist G1 (5 μg) decreased, the number of BrdU+ cells in the dentate gyrus relative to controls. The GPER antagonist, G15 increased the number of BrdU+ cells relative to control in the dorsal region and decreased the number of BrdU+ cells in the ventral region. However, G15 treatment in conjunction with estradiol partially eliminated the estradiol-induced increase in cell proliferation in the dorsal dentate gyrus. Furthermore, G1 decreased the expression of GPER in the dentate gyrus but not the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus. In summary, we found that activation of GPER decreased cell proliferation and GPER expression in the dentate gyrus of young female rats, presenting a potential and novel estrogen-independent role for this receptor in the adult hippocampus.     

Differences in the Nemosis Response of Normal and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts from Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background

Tumor-stroma reaction is associated with activation of fibroblasts. Nemosis is a novel type of fibroblast activation. It leads to an increased production of growth factors and proinflammatory and proteolytic proteins, while at the same time cytoskeletal proteins are degraded. Here we used paired normal skin fibroblasts and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) and primary and recurrent oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells to study the nemosis response.

Principal Findings

Fibroblast nemosis was analyzed by protein and gene expression and the paracrine regulation with colony formation assay. One of the normal fibroblast strains, FB-43, upregulated COX-2 in nemosis, but FB-74 cells did not. In contrast, CAF-74 spheroids expressed COX-2 but CAF-43 cells did not. Alpha-SMA protein was expressed in both CAF strains and in FB-74 cells, but not in FB-43 fibroblasts. Its mRNA levels were downregulated in nemosis, but the CAFs started to regain the expression. FSP1 mRNA was downregulated in normal fibroblasts and CAF-74 cells, but not in CAF-43 fibroblasts. Serine protease FAP was upregulated in all fibroblasts, more so in nemotic CAFs. VEGF, HGF/SF and FGF7 mRNA levels were upregulated to variable degree in nemosis. CAFs increased the colony formation of primary tumor cell lines UT-SCC-43A and UT-SCC-74A, but normal fibroblasts inhibited the anchorage-independent growth of recurrent UT-SCC-43B and UT-SCC-74B cells.

Conclusions

Nemosis response, as observed by COX-2 and growth factor induction, and expression of CAF markers α-SMA, FSP1 and FAP, varies between fibroblast populations. The expression of CAF markers differs between normal fibroblasts and CAFs in nemosis. These results emphasize the heterogeneity of fibroblasts and the evolving tumor-promoting properties of CAFs.     

低氧环境对三阴性乳腺癌细胞糖代谢途径的重编程

代谢改变是癌细胞的特征之一。研究表明,低氧会使癌细胞的糖代谢发生改变,但是更详细的分子机制仍有待进一步研究。本研究利用转录物组测序技术(RNA-sequencing,RNA-seq)和生物信息学分析发现,低氧导致BT549细胞中334个基因和MDA-MB-231细胞中215个基因在转录水平的表达改变。这些表达变化的基因多与糖代谢相关。进一步分析RNA-seq数据并应用Western 印迹、酶活性检测和代谢产物定量测定的结果显示,低氧通过升高BT549细胞中葡萄糖转运蛋白1(GLUT1)和MDA-MB-231细胞中GLUT1和GLUT3的表达以增加葡萄糖的摄入;低氧使催化糖的无氧氧化途径几乎全部反应的酶都至少有一种同工酶或酶蛋白亚基,以及调节酶6-磷酸果糖-2-激酶/果糖-2,6-二磷酸酶3(PFKFB3)和4(PFKFB4)同工酶的表达增加来促进了糖的无氧氧化;低氧还通过增加调节丙酮酸脱氢酶激酶1(PDK1)和3(PDK3)同工酶基因的表达,以及降低关键酶异柠檬酸脱氢酶3(IDH3)同工酶、琥珀酸脱氢酶B亚基和D亚基的表达来减少糖的有氧氧化途径进行;低氧可能还增加磷酸戊糖途径的关键酶葡糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶、糖原合成途径的关键酶糖原合酶GYS1同工酶的表达以促进这2条途径的进行,而对糖异生和糖原分解代谢途径酶基因的表达影响较小。生物信息学分析乳腺癌组织样本在线数据库中糖代谢途径酶基因在转录水平表达结果与细胞研究结果基本一致。总之,该文系统分析了低氧对糖代谢6条代谢途径中全部酶以及2种重要调节酶的影响,可见低氧会通过改变这些酶的同工酶或亚基的基因表达使糖代谢途径进行重编程,这对进一步认识低氧环境下癌细胞糖代谢的分子机制具有一定的意义。     

Human breast cancer associated fibroblasts exhibit subtype specific gene expression profiles

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease for which prognosis and treatment strategies are largely governed by the receptor status (estrogen, progesterone and Her2) of the tumor cells. Gene expression profiling of whole breast tumors further stratifies breast cancer into several molecular subtypes which also co-segregate with the receptor status of the tumor cells. We postulated that cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) within the tumor stroma may exhibit subtype specific gene expression profiles and thus contribute to the biology of the disease in a subtype specific manner. Several studies have reported gene expression profile differences between CAFs and normal breast fibroblasts but in none of these studies were the results stratified based on tumor subtypes. METHODS: To address whether gene expression in breast cancer associated fibroblasts varies between breast cancer subtypes, we compared the gene expression profiles of early passage primary CAFs isolated from twenty human breast cancer samples representing three main subtypes; seven ER+, seven triple negative (TNBC) and six Her2+. RESULTS: We observed significant expression differences between CAFs derived from Her2+ breast cancer and CAFs from TNBC and ER + cancers, particularly in pathways associated with cytoskeleton and integrin signaling. In the case of Her2+ breast cancer, the signaling pathways found to be selectively up regulated in CAFs likely contribute to the enhanced migration of breast cancer cells in transwell assays and may contribute to the unfavorable prognosis of Her2+ breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that in addition to the distinct molecular profiles that characterize the neoplastic cells, CAF gene expression is also differentially regulated in distinct subtypes of breast cancer.