Pharmacologically antagonizing the CXCR4-CXCL12 chemokine pathway with AMD3100 inhibits sunlight-induced skin cancer.
One way sunlight causes skin cancer is by suppressing anti-tumor immunity. A major mechanism involves altering mast cell migration via the C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4-C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCR4-CXCL12) chemokine pathway. We have discovered that pharmacologically blocking this pathway with the CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 prevents both UV radiation-induced immune suppression and skin cancer. The majority of control mice receiving UV-only developed histopathologically confirmed squamous cell carcinomas. In contrast, skin tumor incidence and burden was significantly lower in AMD3100-treated mice. Perhaps most striking was that AMD3100 completely prevented the outgrowth of latent tumors that occurred once UV irradiation ceased. AMD3100 protection from UV immunosuppression and skin cancer was associated with reduced mast cell infiltration into the skin, draining lymph nodes, and the tumor itself. Thus a major target of CXCR4 antagonism was the mast cell. Our results indicate that interfering with UV-induced CXCL12 by antagonizing CXCR4 significantly inhibits skin tumor development by blocking UV-induced effects on mast cells. Hence, the CXCR4-CXCL12 chemokine pathway is a novel therapeutic target in the prevention of UV-induced skin cancer.
Cellular Photoimmunology Group, Discipline of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Department of Dermatology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia; Discipline of Dermatology at The Bosch Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia.
Seri N E
SNE
Sarchio
Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia; Discipline of Pathology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia.
Richard A
RA
Scolyer
Cellular Photoimmunology Group, Discipline of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Department of Dermatology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia; Discipline of Dermatology at The Bosch Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Clare
C
Beaugie
Cellular Photoimmunology Group, Discipline of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Department of Dermatology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia; Discipline of Dermatology at The Bosch Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
David
D
McDonald
Cellular Photoimmunology Group, Discipline of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Department of Dermatology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia; Discipline of Dermatology at The Bosch Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Felix
F
Marsh-Wakefield
Department of Dermatology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia; Discipline of Dermatology at The Bosch Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Gary M
GM
Halliday
Cellular Photoimmunology Group, Discipline of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Department of Dermatology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia; Discipline of Dermatology at The Bosch Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: scott.byrne@sydney.edu.au.
Scott N
SN
Byrne
D000818:Animals; D001596:Benzylamines; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000080027:Cyclams; D005260:Female; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000737:chemistry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D007107:Immune System; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013388:Succinimides / Q000737:chemistry; D013472:Sunlight; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
C087165:5-(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester; D001596:Benzylamines; C514936:CXCR4 protein, mouse; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; C515256:Cxcl12 protein, mouse; D000080027:Cyclams; D005452:Fluoresceins; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; D013388:Succinimides; C088327:plerixafor