Identification of a novel beta-chemokine, MEC, down-regulated in primary breast tumors

Chemokines represent a family of low molecular weight secreted proteins that primarily function in the activation and migration of leukocytes. A number of additional functions of chemokines have also been identified including growth of tumor cells, angiogenesis and development. An iterative search for new chemokines has identified a cDNA that encodes a new member of the CC(beta) chemokine family. The gene has been named MEC, for mammary enriched chemokine. MEC expression was found at high levels in many mammary gland samples and was also detected at lower levels in several other epithelial-enriched tissues, such as salivary gland, colon, and prostate. Northern blot analysis demonstrates that MEC expression was highly reduced or eliminated in a majority of human breast tumors as compared to normal adjacent tissue. In situ hybridization demonstrates that MEC was abundantly expressed in normal mammary ductal epithelium, but expression was absent or reduced in various mammary tumor types of epithelial origin. These observations suggest that MEC may be useful as a diagnostic tool in oncology, and may play a role in regulating mammary carcinogenesis. The absence of MEC may also contribute to the host's immune response to tumors.