| First Author | Nagai-Singer MA | Year | 2023 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 211 |
| Issue | 12 | Pages | 1844-1857 |
| PubMed ID | 37909827 | Mgi Jnum | J:343876 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7568957 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.2200834 |
| Citation | Nagai-Singer MA, et al. (2023) Cellular Context Dictates the Suppression or Augmentation of Triple-Negative Mammary Tumor Metastasis by NLRX1. J Immunol 211(12):1844-1857 |
| abstractText | Prior studies have defined multiple, but inconsistent, roles for the enigmatic pattern recognition receptor NLRX1 in regulating several cancer-associated biological functions. In this study, we explore the role of NLRX1 in the highly metastatic murine 4T1 mammary tumor model. We describe a functional dichotomy of NLRX1 between two different cellular contexts: expression in healthy host cells versus expression in the 4T1 tumor cells. Using Nlrx1-/- mice engrafted with 4T1 tumors, we demonstrate that NLRX1 functions as a tumor suppressor when expressed in the host cells. Specifically, NLRX1 in healthy host cells attenuates tumor growth and lung metastasis through suppressing characteristics of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the lung metastatic niche. Conversely, we demonstrate that NLRX1 functions as a tumor promoter when expressed in 4T1 tumor cells using gain- and loss-of-function studies both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, NLRX1 in the tumor cells augments 4T1 aggressiveness and metastasis through regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition hallmarks, cell death, proliferation, migration, reactive oxygen species levels, and mitochondrial respiration. Collectively, we provide critical insight into NLRX1 function and establish a dichotomous role of NLRX1 in the 4T1 murine mammary carcinoma model that is dictated by cellular context. |
