The interaction of HAb18G/CD147 with integrin alpha6beta1 and its implications for the invasion potential of human hepatoma cells.
BACKGROUND
HAb18G/CD147 plays pivotal roles in invasion by hepatoma cells, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Our previous study demonstrated that overexpression of HAb18G/CD147 promotes invasion by interacting with integrin alpha3beta1. However, it has never been investigated whether alpha3beta1 is solely responsible for this process or if other integrin family members also interact with HAb18G/CD147 in human hepatoma cells.


METHODS
Human SMMC-7721 and FHCC98 cells were cultured and transfected with siRNA fragments against HAb18G/CD147. The expression levels of HAb18G/CD147 and integrin alpha6beta1 were determined by immunofluorescent double-staining and confocal imaging analysis. Co-immunoprecipitation and Western blot analyses were performed to examine the native conformations of HAb18G/CD147 and integrin alpha6beta1. Invasion potential was evaluated with an invasion assay and gelatin zymography.


RESULTS
We found that integrin alpha6beta1 co-localizes and interacts with HAb18G/CD147 in human hepatoma cells. The enhancing effects of HAb18G/CD147 on invasion capacity and secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were partially blocked by integrin alpha6beta1 antibodies (P < 0.01). Wortmannin, a specific phosphatidylinositol kinase (PI3K) inhibitor that reverses the effect of HAb18G/CD147 on the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, significantly reduced cell invasion potential and secretion of MMPs in human hepatoma cells (P < 0.05). Importantly, no additive effect between Wortmannin and alpha6beta1 antibodies was observed, indicating that alpha6beta1 and PI3K transmit the signal in an upstream-downstream relationship.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that alpha6beta1 interacts with HAb18G/CD147 to mediate tumor invasion and metastatic processes through the PI3K pathway.
Cell Engineering Research Centre & Department of Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, No.17 West Changle Road, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi, PR China. daijingyao2008@gmail.com
Jing-yao
JY
Dai
Ke-feng
KF
Dou
Cong-hua
CH
Wang
Pu
P
Zhao
Wayne Bond
WB
Lau
Ling
L
Tao
Ya-mei
YM
Wu
Juan
J
Tang
Jian-li
JL
Jiang
Zhi-nan
ZN
Chen
D051926:Basigin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D039121:Integrin alpha6beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011485:Protein Binding; D021381:Protein Transport
C497886:BSG protein, human; D039121:Integrin alpha6beta1; D051926:Basigin