title: A novel function of CXCL13 to stimulate RANK ligand expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.
abstract: Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) are malignant tumors with a potent activity of local bone invasion/osteolysis. The chemokine ligand, CXCL13, has been identified as a prognostic marker for OSCC development and progression. Here in, we show that recombinant hCXCL13 treatment of OSCC cells stimulates (5-fold) RANK ligand (RANKL), a critical bone resorbing osteoclastogenic factor expression. Anti-CXCR5 chemokine receptor antibody abrogates CXCL13-induced RANKL expression in these cells. Also, CXCL13 stimulated (3.0-fold) hRANKL gene promoter activity in SCC14a cells. SuperArray screening for transcription factors by real-time RT-PCR identified significant increase in the levels of c-Jun and NFATc3 mRNA expression in CXCL13-stimulated OSCC cells. CXCL13 treatment significantly increased (3.5-fold) phospho-c-Jun levels in these cells and a c-Jun-NH(2)-kinase inhibitor abolished CXCL13-stimulated RANKL expression. Furthermore, we show that CXCL13 stimulation induced nuclear translocation of NFATc3 in OSCC cells. Chromatin-immune precipitation assay confirmed NFATc3 binding to the RANKL promoter region. We also show that overexpression of NFATc3 stimulates RANKL expression/promoter activity and that siRNA suppression of NFATc3 abolished CXCL13-stimulated RANKL expression. Thus, our results suggest that NFATc3 is a downstream target of the CXCL13/CXCR5 axis to stimulate RANKL expression in OSCC cells and implicates CXCL13 as a potential therapeutic target to prevent OSCC bone invasion/osteolysis.
authors: Charles P. Darby Children's Research Institute, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
authors: Sambandam
authors: S
authors: Yuvaraj
authors: Alfred C
authors: AC
authors: Griffin
authors: Kumaran
authors: K
authors: Sundaram
authors: Keith L
authors: KL
authors: Kirkwood
authors: James S
authors: JS
authors: Norris
authors: Sakamuri V
authors: SV
authors: Reddy
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D054382:Chemokine CXCL13 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000378:metabolism; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C110663:CXCL13 protein, human; D054382:Chemokine CXCL13; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; C494008:NFATC3 protein, human; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D053245:RANK Ligand; D014157:Transcription Factors