CXC-chemokine/CXCR2 biological axis promotes angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo in pancreatic cancer.
Angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth and metastasis. Although ELR(+)-CXC-chemokines and their corresponding receptor, CXC-receptor 2 (CXCR2), are known mediators of angiogenesis, little is known about their role in pancreatic cancer (PaCa). The aim of our study was to determine the role of ELR(+)-CXC-chemokine/CXCR2 biological axis in promoting PaCa angiogenesis. We prospectively collected secretin-stimulated exocrine pancreatic secretions (SSEPS) from normal individuals (NP) and PaCa patients. We showed that summed concentrations of ELR(+)-CXC-chemokines in SSEPS from PaCa patients were significantly higher than in those from NP (p = 0.002). We measured ELR(+)-CXC-chemokine levels in supernatants from multiple PaCa cell lines and confirmed that BxPC-3, Colo-357 and Panc-28 had significantly higher expression compared with an immortalized human pancreatic ductal epithelial (HPDE) cell line. After confirming lack of autocrine effects of ELR(+)-CXC-chemokines on PaCa cells (due to absence of CXCR2 expression), we investigated paracrine effects of these chemokines on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Both recombinant ELR(+)-CXC-chemokines and co-culturing with BxPC-3 significantly enhanced proliferation, invasion, and tube formation of HUVEC (p < 0.05). These biological effects were significantly inhibited by treatment with a neutralizing antibody against CXCR2 (anti-CXCR2 Ab) (p < 0.05). Finally, anti-CXCR2 Ab significantly reduced tumor volume (p < 0.05), Ki-67 proliferation index (p = 0.043) and Factor VIII(+) microvessel density (p = 0.004) in an orthotopic nude mouse PaCa model. Our results show that ELR(+)-CXC-chemokines promote PaCa tumor-associated angiogenesis through CXCR2, suggesting that CXCR2 is an anti-angiogenic target in PaCa.
Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, 77030, USA.
Yoichi
Y
Matsuo
Massimo
M
Raimondo
Timothy A
TA
Woodward
Michael B
MB
Wallace
Kanwar R
KR
Gill
Zhimin
Z
Tong
Marie D
MD
Burdick
Zhijian
Z
Yang
Robert M
RM
Strieter
Robert M
RM
Hoffman
Sushovan
S
Guha
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D023063:Receptors, Interleukin-8B / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012633:Secretin / Q000378:metabolism; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology
D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D023063:Receptors, Interleukin-8B; D012633:Secretin