Cell mediated immune responses through TLR4 prevents DMBA-induced mammary carcinogenesis in mice

Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) activate signals that are critically involved in the initiation of adaptive immune responses and many tumorigenic chemicals have been associated with activation of those pathways. To determine the role of TLR‐4 (TLR4) in mammary carcinogenesis, we subjected TLR4 deficient and wild type (WT) mice to oral gavage with carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbon 7,12‐dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA). TLR4 deficient mice developed more tumors relative to the WT mice. T cells of TLR4 deficient mice produced elevated levels of IL‐17 and lower levels of IFN‐γ relative to WT mice. IL‐12 secreted by CD11c+ cells was higher in WT mice, whereas greater amounts of IL‐23 were produced by CD11c+ cells from TLR4 deficient mice. Moreover, there was higher incidence of regulatory T cells in TLR4 deficient mice than WT mice. Similarly, various markers of angiogenesis [matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)‐2 and MMP‐9, CD31 and vascular endothelial growth factor] were highly expressed in tumors from TLR4 deficient mice than WT mice. The results of this study indicate that TLR4 plays an important role in the prevention of DMBA induced mouse mammary tumorigenesis and efforts to divert the cell‐mediated immune response may, therefore, prove to be beneficial in the prevention of mammary tumors.