Invasion and Metastasis Suppression by Anti-Neonatal Nav1.5 Antibodies in Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

Detectable neonatal Nav1.5 (nNav1.5) expression in tumour breast tissue positive for lymph node metastasis and triple-negative subtype serves as a valid tumour-associated antigen to target and prevent breast cancer invasion and metastasis. Therapeutic antibodies against tumour antigens have become the predominant class of new drugs in cancer therapy because of their fewer adverse effects and high specificity.

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to investigate the therapeutic and anti-metastatic potential of the two newly obtained anti-nNav1.5 antibodies, polyclonal anti-nNav1.5 (pAb-nNav1.5) and monoclonal anti-nNav1.5 (mAb-nNav1.5), on breast cancer invasion and metastasis.

METHODS

MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells were used as in vitro models to study the effect of pAb-nNav1.5 (59.2 µg/ml) and mAb-nNav1.5 (10 µg/ml) (24 hours treatment) on cell invasion. 4T1-induced mammary tumours in BALB/c female mice were used as an in vivo model to study the effect of a single dose of intravenous pAb-nNav1.5 (1 mg/ml) and mAb-nNav1.5 (1 mg/ml) on the occurrence of metastasis. Real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining were conducted to assess the effect of antibody treatment on nNav1.5 mRNA and protein expression, respectively. The animals' body weight, organs, lesions, and tumour mass were also measured and compared.

RESULTS

pAb-nNav1.5 and mAb-nNav1.5 treatments effectively suppressed the invasion of MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells in the 3D spheroid invasion assay. Both antibodies significantly reduced nNav1.5 gene and protein expression in these cell lines. Treatment with pAb-nNav1.5 and mAb-nNav1.5 successfully reduced mammary tumour tissue size and mass and prevented lesions in vital organs of the mammary tumour animal model whilst maintaining the animal's healthy weight. mRNA expression of nNav1.5 in mammary tumour tissues was only reduced by mAb-nNav1.5.

CONCLUSION

Overall, this work verifies the uniqueness of targeting nNav1.5 in breast cancer invasion and metastasis prevention, but more importantly, humanised versions of mAb-nNav1.5 may be valuable passive immunotherapeutic agents to target nNav1.5 in breast cancer.

Intestinal absorption of triglyceride and vitamin D3 in aged and young rats

[3H]Trioleyl glycerol (TO) and [14C]vitamin D3 were perfused intraduodenally for 5 hr in aged (19-21 months) and young adult (4-5 months) Sprague-Dawley rats. The rate of intestinal uptake from the gastrointestinal lumen and transport into the body of these lipids were decreased in the aged animals. Since the distribution of TO lipolytic products in the lumen was unchanged, reduced intestinal uptake rate probably occurred at the mucosal membrane. Furthermore, in the aged rats, the rate of transintestinal transport of both trioleyl glycerol and vitamin D3 was impaired. No evidence for impaired mucosal TO reesterification or for accumulation of vitamin D3 metabolites was found, suggesting that intestinal lipid accumulation resulted from a defect in lipoprotein assembly or in discharge from the mucosal cell. Impaired absorption of lipids may contribute to malnutrition and osteopenia of advancing age.

Triton-induced hyperlipidemia: a model for studies of intestinal lipoprotein production

To estimate intestinal very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) contribution to the circulating plasma triglyceride (TG) pool, mesenteric, hepatic, and total TG production rates were measured in mesenteric lymph-cannulated male rats after Triton WR-1339 blockage of systemic VLDL metabolism. The intestinal contribution (4.92 +/- 0.5 mg TG/h) was calculated to be 19% of total TG production rate. Triton WR-1339 administration caused profound hyperlipoproteinemia but did not alter total lymph TG or VLDL apoprotein output. The percent of lymph VLDL apoprotein present as apo A-I and apo A-IV fell dramatically after Triton with a concomitant increase in apo E and apo C peptides. Studies in this Triton-treated rat model suggest that the intestinal contribution to systemic TG formation is small but that changes in circulating apolipoproteins may alter the composition of intestinal VLDL.