TGF-β1 and its signal molecules: Are they correlated with the elasticity characteristics of breast lesions

Shear wave elastography can evaluate tissue stiffness. Previous studies showed that the elasticity characteristics of breast lesions were related to the components of extracellular matrix which was regulated by transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-β1) directly or indirectly.
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TGF-β1 and its signal molecules: Are they correlated with the elasticity characteristics of breast lesionsZhangetal. BMC Cancer (2021) 21:1336https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-021-09036-4 RESEARCH Open AccessTGF-β1 andits signal molecules: are theycorrelated withtheelasticity characteristicsofbreast lesions?MengKeZhang1†, BoWang1†, ShiYuLi1, GangLiu2*and ZhiLiWang1*  Abstract  Background:  Shear wave elastography can evaluate tissue stiffness. Previous studies showed that the elasticity char- acteristics of breast lesions were related to the components of extracellular matrix which was regulated by transform- ing growth factor beta 1(TGF-β1) directly or indirectly. However, the correlation of the expression level of TGF-β1, its signal molecules and elasticity characteristics of breast lesions have rarely been reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between the expression level of TGF-β1, its signal molecules, and the elasticity characteristics of breast lesions. Methods:  135 breast lesions in 130 patients were included. Elasticity parameters, including elasticity modulus, the elasticity ratio, the “stiff rim sign”, were recorded before biopsy and surgical excision. The expression levels of TGF-β1 and its signal molecules, including Smad2/3, Erk1/2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase 2 (JNK2), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and protein kinase B (PKB/AKT) were detected by immunohis- tochemistry. The diagnostic performance of the expression level of those molecules and their correlation with the elasticity characteristics were analyzed. Results:  Elasticity parameters and the expression levels of TGF- β1 and its signal molecules of benign lesions were lower than those of malignant lesions (PZhangetal. BMC Cancer (2021) 21:1336 Page 2 of 13cancer survivors [3, 4]. At present, mammography is standard”. Then the axillary lymph node metastasis ofwidely used as the main tool for breast screening. How- patients with malignant breast lesions was followed up.ever, the sensitivity of mammography is relatively low in The patients were included if they met the followingwomen with dense breast tissue, resulting in missed or criteria: I. Pathological results were obtained by VAB ordelayed diagnosis [5]. Shear wave elastography (SWE), a surgical excision; II. Patients haven’t undergone neoad-newly ultrasound-based technology, can measure tissue juvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy; III. Patients didstiffness and provides a qualitatively and quantitatively not have other malignant lesions or serious diseases ofinterpretable color-coded map [6]. Many studies indi- the heart, lung, liver, kidney, etc. IV. Patients had com-cated that SWE had good diagnostic accuracy in the dif- prehensive information of clinical, ultrasound, pathologyferentiation of benign and malignant breast lesions [6–8]. prognosis and follow-up; Previous studies showed that the components of extra-cellular matrix (ECM) were related to the elasticity char- SWE examinationacteristics of breast lesions, and collagen and elastin in Aixplorer ultrasound system (SuperSonic Imagine, AixECM were important factors that determine the elasticity en Provence, France) with an L15–4 linear array probeof breast lesions [9, 10]. It is reported that the changes (4.0–15.0 MHz) was used for 2D-SWE examination (scaleof composition and structure of ECM are mainly regu- 0-300Kpa). The SWE examination was performed by anlated by transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) [11, 12]. experienced radiologist (Z.L.W) with more than 15 years’TGF-β, which is widely distributed in human body, has 3 working experience in breast ultrasound. Breast lesionsisoforms, among which TGF- β1 is the most abundant. It were located by conventional ultrasound and placed incan regulate the processes of cell carcinogenesis, prolifer- the center of the screen. During SWE scan, the probeation, differentiation, apoptosis, metabolism and growth was positioned perpendicular, and the probe was main-through TGF-β1/Smad, TGF-β1/ mitogen-activated pro- tained to a minimum pressure. The patients were askedtein kinase (MAPK), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/ to breathe gently during the examination in order toprotein kinase B (PKB/AKT) and other signal trans- minimize the motion artifact. The image was acquired ifduction pathways, and participate in almost the whole it was stabilized for 3 s. To measure the accurate stiffnessprocess of oc ...