title: Chemokine receptor 7 enhances cell chemotaxis and migration of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck through activation of matrix metalloproteinase-9.
abstract: The mechanisms leading to squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) metastasis are not fully understood. Although evidence shows that the chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) and its ligand CCL19 may regulate tumor dissemination, their role is not clearly defined in SCCHN. Matrix metalloproteinases break consisting of tissue barrier to the surrounding tissue invasion and metastasis by destroying the balance of matrix degradation of the basement membrane of tumor cells and extracellular matrix (ECM). We used chemotaxis and migration assays, western blotting, gelatin zymography, actin polymerization assay, immunofluorescence staining and immunohistochemical analysis to explore whether MMP-9 can be activated by CCL19 (CCR7's ligand) and its role in SCCHN. The experiments were performed in the metastatic SCCHN cell line PCI-37B after pre-incubation of the cells with CCL19 and SB-3CT (inhibitor of MMP-9). Our results demonstrated that CCR7 favors PCI-37B cell chemotaxis and migration, upregulation of MMP-9 protein and motivates the activity of MMP-9 protein, induces reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and upregulation of MMP-9 protein. SB-3CT can block all these effects. Collectively, our data indicated that CCR7 regulates cell chemotaxis and migration via MMP-9 in metastatic SCCHN, and these results provide a basis for new strategies in preventing metastases of SCCHN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck, Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fayu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck, Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Liangliang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jinying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck, Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck, Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Changfu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D054415:Chemokine CCL19 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D054400:Receptors, CCR7 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
chemical_list: C515370:CCR7 protein, human; D054415:Chemokine CCL19; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; C579270:MMP9 protein, human; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9