Fluid Shear Stress Modulates Inflammation in Breast Cancer Microenvironment.

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Cell Biology
• Oncology

Background:

• Fluid shear stress (FSS) is a biomechanical force influencing cell phenotype.
• High FSS shows potential in preventing tumor development and suppressing cancer growth.
• The precise mechanism of FSS's antitumorigenic effects remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of FSS on the breast cancer microenvironment.
• To explore the role of macrophage modulation in FSS-mediated effects on cancer.

Main Methods:

• THP-1 derived macrophages were exposed to varying levels of FSS.
• Supernatants (FSS-conditioned medium) were used to treat MCF-7 breast cancer cells and HUVECs.
• Effects on apoptosis, migration, cell cycle arrest, and proliferation were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Low FSS-conditioned medium (FSS-CM) promoted MCF-7 cell migration and inhibited apoptosis.
• High FSS-CM induced apoptosis, inhibited migration, and caused G1-phase arrest in MCF-7 cells.
• Low FSS-CM enhanced HUVEC proliferation.

Conclusions:

• High FSS promotes macrophage polarization towards an anti-tumor phenotype.
• This polarization leads to increased apoptosis and reduced migration in breast cancer cells.
• Modulating macrophage polarization via FSS offers therapeutic potential for breast cancer suppression.