Increased transforming growth factor-β and interleukin-17 transcripts in peripheral blood of breast cancer patients with different clinical stages

Abstract

Background: Currently, cancer as major problem around the world threatens human health and has a high incidence in developing countries. Many reports have showed that there is a dysfunction in the immune system of cancer patients. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) are increased in the generated through cancers, and IL-17 is considered as a pro-inflammatory cytokine; IL-17 is an angiogenic factor and promotes tumor growth. Materials and Methods: In this study TGF-β and IL-17, mRNA gene expression has been measured in peripheral blood of 35 breast cancer patients and 35 normal age-matched women using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method with master mix reaction containing SYBER Green. β-actin gene was used as housekeeping gene. Results: Our data demonstrated a significant upregulation of TGF-β and IL-17 gene expression (P < 0.05) in patient's peripheral blood compared to normal healthy control. Levels of genes expression were higher in the breast cancer group compared to the control group. Conclusion: TGF-β and IL-17 expression could be used as a diagnostic marker for detecting breast cancer.

Keywords

• Breast cancer
• gene expression
• interleukin-17
• real-time polymerase chain reaction
• transforming growth factor-β