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Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Studying the Role of Alveolar Macrophages in Breast Cancer Metastasis
Published on: June 26, 2016
Adrenergic receptor β2 activation by stress promotes breast cancer progression through macrophages M2 polarization in
Jun-fang Qin1, Feng-jiao Jin2, Ning Li2
1School of Medicine, Nankai University; State Key Laboratory of Medical Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China.
Abstract:
Stress and its related hormones epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) play a crucial role in tumor progression. Macrophages in the tumor microenvironment (TME) polarized to M2 is also a vital pathway for tumor deterioration. Here, we explore the underlying role of macrophages in the effect of stress and E promoting breast cancer growth. It was found that the weight and volume of tumor in tumor bearing mice were increased, and dramatically accompanied with the rising E level after chronic stress using social isolation. What is most noteworthy, the number of M2 macrophages inside tumor was up-regulated with it. The effects of E treatment appear to be directly related to the change of M2 phenotype is reproduced in vitro. Moreover, E receptor ADRβ2 involved in E promoting M2 polarization was comprehended simultaneously. Our results imply psychological stress is influential on specific immune system, more essential for the comprehensive treatment against tumors.
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