FNDC1-driven macrophage polarization promotes breast cancer cell invasion

Fibronectin Type III Domain Containing 1 (FNDC1) has been linked to several cancers, but its role in breast cancer and its impact on the tumor microenvironment, particularly macrophage polarization, are poorly understood. This study investigated FNDC1 expression in breast cancer tissues and its effects on macrophage polarization and tumor progression.

This cross-sectional study collected breast cancer and adjacent normal tissue samples from 31 patients, and FNDC1 expression levels were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the GEPIA databases were further used to validate FNDC1 expression patterns. In vitro experiments were performed using macrophages transfected with an FNDC1-overexpressing lentiviral vector to assess its effects on macrophage polarization. FNDC1 expression was evaluated by qPCR and Western blot, whereas macrophage polarization markers CD80, CD86, CD115 and CD206 were assessed by flow cytometry. Exosomes secreted by FNDC1-overexpressing macrophages were isolated and characterized, and their effects on breast cancer cell migration and invasion were assessed using wound-healing and Transwell assays. In addition, exosomes derived from M0, M1, and M2 macrophages, as well as from PLX3397-treated M2 macrophages, were evaluated in Transwell invasion assays in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

FNDC1 expression was significantly higher in breast cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues, as confirmed by immunohistochemistry and validated by TCGA and GEPIA database analyses. Overexpression of FNDC1 in macrophages promoted polarization toward the M2 phenotype, as evidenced by increased expression of CD115 and CD206. Exosomes derived from FNDC1-overexpressing macrophages enhanced the migratory and invasive abilities of breast cancer cells in vitro. Exo-M2 significantly promoted breast cancer cell invasion, whereas exo-M1 reduced invasion, and PLX3397 treatment attenuated the pro-invasive effect of exo-M2. These findings suggest that FNDC1 may contribute to breast cancer progression through macrophage polarization and exosome-mediated modulation of cancer cell behavior.

This study demonstrates that FNDC1 is upregulated in breast cancer tissues and promotes breast cancer cell migration and invasion by promoting M2-like macrophage polarization and enhancing the pro-invasive effects of macrophage-derived exosomes. FNDC1 may serve as a novel therapeutic target for modulating the tumor microenvironment and improving outcomes for breast cancer patients.