Fig. 6

TAMs infiltration positively correlates with ZEB1 and DNMT1 expression in breast cancer tissues. A–C IHC assays in breast cancer tissues were measured using anti-CD163, anti-ZEB1 and anti-DNMT1 antibodies (n = 90). Semi-quantitative scoring method (using a scale from 0 to 12) was used to quantify the scores of CD163, ZEB1 and DNMT1 IHC staining. Analyzing the relevant ZEB1 (A) or DNMT1 (B) expression in CD163-Low cases and CD163-High cases; analyzing the relevant DNMT1 expression in ZEB1-Low cases and ZEB1-High cases (C) by Student’s t-test. D-G Representative images of CD163, ZEB1 and DNMT1 expressions in CD163-Low case and CD163-High case were presented (D). Correlation between CD163 and ZEB1 expression (E), CD163 and DNMT1 expression (F), ZEB1 and DNMT1 (G) were examined by Pearson correlation coefficient test, respectively. H–J Correlation between CD163 and ZEB1 expression (H), CD163 and DNMT1 expression (I), ZEB1 and DNMT1 expression (J) were examined by Fisher’s exact test, respectively. K A proposed model of this study. TAMs secrete IL-6 to increase breast cancer cells ZEB1 expression through stimulating STAT3 pathway in tumour microenvironment. Then ZEB1 facilitates DNMT1 transcription by recruited P300 enrichment on DNMT1 promoter. Finally DNMT1 high expression promotes breast cancer tumorigenesis and metastasis