2. Academic Validation
  3. Social interaction in mice suppresses breast cancer progression via a corticoamygdala neural circuit

Social interaction in mice suppresses breast cancer progression via a corticoamygdala neural circuit

  • Neuron. 2025 Jul 29:S0896-6273(25)00509-4. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2025.07.002.
Hui-Zhong Wen 1,  Si-Yi Xiong 2,  Yun-Xiao Lou 1,  Si-Zhe Yang 2,  Lin Sun 3,  Yi-Lun Yi 4,  Bo-Qin Tang 4,  Qin Shu 4,  Zhao-Qun Wang 1,  Xiao-Jing Yan 5,  Ya-Ran Wu 6,  Peng-Hui Chen 1,  Xiao-Wei Qi 2,  Yi Zhang 7,  Li-Meng Dai 8,  Ying Xiong 9,  Guang-Yan Wu 10
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Brain Development and Cognitive Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
  • 2 Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
  • 3 Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
  • 4 Experimental Center of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Brain Development and Cognitive Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
  • 5 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
  • 6 Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
  • 7 Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China. Electronic address: yzhang@tmmu.edu.cn.
  • 8 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China. Electronic address: dailimeng@tmmu.edu.cn.
  • 9 Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Brain Development and Cognitive Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China. Electronic address: yxiong@tmmu.edu.cn.
  • 10 Experimental Center of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Brain Development and Cognitive Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China. Electronic address: wgy009@tmmu.edu.cn.
PMID: 40752486 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2025.07.002
Abstract

Social behaviors are vital for all mammalian species. Clinical observations and epidemiological studies have demonstrated that social interaction (SI) may slow Cancer progression and improve patient outcomes. However, the underlying neural mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we found that SI in mouse models suppresses tumor growth through activating glutamatergic inputs from the anterior cingulate cortex (ACCGlu) to the basolateral amygdala (BLA), inhibiting intratumoral sympathetic nerve activity. Chemogenetic inhibition of the SI-activated ACCGlu neurons and ACCGlu→BLAGlu circuits abolished anxiolytic and antitumor effects of SI. Artificial reactivation of these neurons and circuits could mimic the anxiolytic and antitumor effects of SI. Manipulating the ACCGlu→BLAGlu circuits to regulate intratumoral sympathetic activity and norepinephrine (NE) release affected tumor progression by modulating antitumor immunity. Collectively, our study shows that SI activates the corticoamygdala neural circuit, which suppresses Cancer progression, offering potential insights into the clinical application of social support in Cancer treatment.

Keywords

brain; breast cancer; cancer neuroscience; neural circuit; social interaction; tumor microenvironment.

Figures
Products