title: Activation of EGFR promotes squamous carcinoma SCC10A cell migration and invasion via inducing EMT-like phenotype change and MMP-9-mediated degradation of E-cadherin.
abstract: EGFR is a potent stimulator of invasion and metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). However, the mechanism by which EGFR may stimulate tumor cell invasion and metastasis still need to be elucidated. In this study, we showed that activation of EGFR by EGF in HNSCC cell line SCC10A enhanced cell migration and invasion, and induced loss of epitheloid phenotype in parallel with downregulation of E-cadherin and upregulation of N-cadherin and vimentin, indicating that EGFR promoted SCC10A cell migration and invasion possibly by an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like phenotype change. Interestingly, activation of EGFR by EGF induced production of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and soluble E-cadherin (sE-cad), and knockdown of MMP-9 by siRNA inhibited sE-cad production induced by EGF in SCC10A. Moreover, both MMP-9 knockdown and E-cadherin overexpression inhibited cell migration and invasion induced by EGF in SCC10A. The results indicate that EGFR activation promoted cell migration and invasion through inducing MMP-9-mediated degradation of E-cadherin into sE-cad. Pharmacologic inhibition of EGFR, MEK, and PI3K kinase activity in SCC10A reduced phosphorylated levels of ERK-1/2 and AKT, production of MMP-9 and sE-cad, cell migration and invasion, and expressional changes of EMT markers (E-cadherin and N-cadherin) induced by EGF, indicating that EGFR activation promotes cell migration and invasion via ERK-1/2 and PI3K-regulated MMP-9/E-cadherin signaling pathways. Taken together, the data suggest that EGFR activation promotes HNSCC SCC10A cell migration and invasion by inducing EMT-like phenotype change and MMP-9-mediated degradation of E-cadherin into sE-cad related to activation of ERK-1/2 and PI3K signaling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics of Chinese Ministry of Health, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, PR China.
authors.forename: Jian-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Mao-Yu
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xin-Hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Gu-Qing
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Xun-Xun
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Qiu-Yan
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Jian-Huang
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jia-Quan
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhi-Qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010641:Phenotype; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D059748:Proteolysis
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9