Expression of AITR and AITR ligand in breast cancer patients

Human activation-inducible TNF receptor (AITR) is a new member of the tumor necrosis factor family and expressed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and leukocytes. Its ligand (AITRL) is expressed in endothelial cells. This study aimed to evaluate the presence and role of AITR and AITRL in patients with breast cancer. Expression of AITR and AITRL on PBMC and breast cancer cells was determined by flow cytometry, RT-PCR and fluorescence microscopy. Soluble (s) AITR and sAITRL were detected in serum of breast cancer patients by ELISA. AITR and AITRL were constitutively expressed in T cells, B cells, monocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells of breast cancer patients. AITRL was overexpressed in breast cancer cells. The levels of sAITRL were significantly increased in serum of breast cancer patients compared with the healthy control. This study suggests that AITR and AITRL may play an important role in tumor growth and survival in breast cancer.