Adipocyte Hsp47: A Novel Regulator of Obesity and Obesity-Associated Breast Cancer
Obesity or being overweight is a growing global health concern and a significant risk factor for various cancers, including breast cancer. The increased incidence and poor adverse outcomes of breast cancer in individuals with obesity have prompted research into the molecular mechanisms linking obesity, adipose tissue remodeling, and tumor progression. Adipose tissue, which surrounds mammary tumor, is viewed not only as an energy storage and endocrine organ, but also as an active participant in breast cancer biology. Fibrosis, a key feature of obese adipose tissue, can contribute to a pro-tumorigenic macroenvironment by altering extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, composition and alignment. Heat Shock Protein 47 (Hsp47) is a chaperone protein facilitating collagen secretion. Recent studies indicate that elevated Hsp47 expression in adipocytes is associated with obesity, sheds new light on the mechanisms underlying obesity-associated breast cancer progression. Adipocyte-expressed Hsp47 promotes obesity-associated breast cancer progression by contributing to ECM deposition and modulating immune responses within the tissue environment. It reveals a novel role of adipose tissue in breast cancer progression and has identified Hsp47 as a potential therapeutic target for obesity-associated breast cancer.
DOI: 10.29245/2578-2967/2025/3.1211 View / Download Pdf