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Understanding the Role of Toll-Like Receptors 9 in Breast Cancer
by
, , ,
Umaima Al-alem
1,*,
Alaa Al-Saruri
2,
Hasan Bamahros
3,
Abeer M. Mahmoud
4,5
,
Emily Sible
6 and
Uzma A. Hasan
6,7 1
Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago; Chicago, IL 60607, USA
2
Department Psychologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
3
College of Business Administration, University of Hail, Hail 55471, Saudi Arabia
4
Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
5
Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
6
Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, CIRI, Inserm, U1111, 69007 Lyon, France
7
Cancer Research Centre of Lyon, CRCL, INSERM U1052-CNRS UMR5286, 69008 Lyon, France
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cancers 2024, 16(15), 2679; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16152679 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 30 May 2024
/
Revised: 14 July 2024
/
Accepted: 24 July 2024
/
Published: 27 July 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Connecting the Dots between Breast Cancer and Metabolic Health: Lifestyle, Genetic and Epigenetics)
Simple Summary
Breast cancer is a major global issue, ranking as the second most common cancer among women. Various factors such as genetics, epigenetics, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, tobacco use, and vitamin D deficiency have been implicated in its prevalence. Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) has emerged as a potential key factor, yet its role in breast cancer has not been fully explored. TLR9, a component of the innate immune system, recognizes unmethylated CpG motifs, thus initiating immune responses. Understanding TLR9 expression and function in breast tissue, particularly in distinguishing between normal and cancerous tissue, is crucial. This review examines the existing literature on TLR9 expression in both normal and cancerous breast tissue, aiming to identify knowledge gaps and enhance our understanding of TLR9’s role in breast cancer. The ultimate goal is to enhance our understanding of TLR9’s involvement in breast cancer pathogenesis, which could potentially lead to novel diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets, thereby improving patient outcomes and advancing breast cancer treatment strategies.
Abstract
Breast cancer is a significant global issue, ranking as the second most common cancer among women worldwide and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Although the exact causes of this increase remain unclear, factors such as genetics, epigenetics, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, tobacco use, and vitamin D deficiency have been implicated. The Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) is recognized for its role in inflammation and innate immunity; however, its specific involvement in breast cancer pathogenesis requires further investigation. This study aims to systematically review the existing literature on TLR9 expression in normal and cancerous breast tissue, providing current knowledge and identifying gaps. Relevant articles in English were from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, with the inclusion criteria focusing on studies evaluating TLR9 mRNA and protein expression. The review found that TLR9 mRNA and protein exhibit variable expressions in both normal and cancerous breast tissue, highlighting the need for further research to clarify TLR9’s role in breast cancer.
Keywords:
breast cancer; Toll-like receptor 9; systematic review
