Intermittent hypoxia confers pro-metastatic gene expression selectively through NF-κB in inflammatory breast cancer cells

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is the most aggressive form of breast cancer. Treatment options are limited and the mechanisms underlying its aggressiveness are poorly understood. Intermittent hypoxia (IH) causes oxidative stress and is emerging as important regulator of tumor metastasis. Vessels in IBC tumors have been shown to be immature, which is a primary cause of IH. We therefore investigated the relevance of IH for the modulation of gene expression in IBC cells in order to assess IH as potential regulator of IBC aggressiveness. Gene array analysis of IBC cells following chronic IH (45–60 days) demonstrated increased expression of pro-metastatic genes of the extracellular matrix, such as tenascin-C (TNC; an essential factor of the metastatic niche) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), and of pro-inflammatory processes, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Investigating the oxidative stress-dependent regulation of TNC, we found a gradual sensitivity on mRNA and protein levels. Oxidative stress activated NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), c-Jun and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), but TNC upregulation was only dependent on NF-κB activation. Pharmacological inhibition of inhibitor of NF-κB α (IκBα) phosphorylation as well as overexpression of IκBα prevented TNC, MMP9 and COX-2 induction, whereas the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) increased their expression levels. Analysis of the gene array data showed NF-κB binding sites for 64% of all upregulated genes, linking NF-κB with IH-dependent regulation of pro-metastatic gene expression in IBC cells. Our results provide a first link between intermittent hypoxia and pro-metastatic gene expression in IBC cells, revealing a putative novel mechanism for the high metastatic potential of IBC. [Display omitted] •Intermittent hypoxia (IH) increases pro-metastatic gene expression in IBC cells.•ROS activates NF-κB, Nrf2 and c-Jun in IBC cells.•IH-dependent gene regulation depends on NF-κB but not on other ROS-induced pathways.•IH is proposed as an important regulator of IBC aggressiveness.