title: The chemokines CCR1 and CCRL2 have a role in colorectal cancer liver metastasis.
abstract: C-C chemokine receptor type 1 (CCR1) and chemokine C-C motif receptor-like 2 (CCRL2) have not yet been sufficiently investigated for their role in colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, we investigated their expression in rat and human CRC samples, their modulation of expression in a rat liver metastasis model, as well as the effects on cellular properties resulting from their knockdown. One rat and five human colorectal cancer cell lines were used. CC531 rat colorectal cells were injected via the portal vein into rats and re-isolated from rat livers after defined periods. Following mRNA isolation, the gene expression was investigated by microarray. In addition, all cell lines were screened for mRNA expression of CCR1 and CCRL2 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cell lines with detectable expression were used for knockdown experiments; and the respective influence was determined on the cells' proliferation, scratch closure, and colony formation. Finally, specimens from the primaries of 50 patients with CRC were monitored by quantitative RT-PCR for CCR1 and CCRL2 expression levels. The microarray studies showed peak increases of CCR1 and CCRL2 in the early phase of liver colonization. Knockdown was sufficient at mRNA but only moderate at protein levels and resulted in modest but significant inhibition of proliferation (p < 0.05), scratch closure, and colony formation (p < 0.05). All human CRC samples were positive for CCR1 and CCRL2 and showed a significant pairwise correlation (p < 0.0004), but there was no correlation with tumor stage or age of patients. In summary, the data point to an important role of CCR1 and CCRL2 under conditions of organ colonization and both chemokine receptors qualify as targets of treatment during early colorectal cancer liver metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Toxicology and Chemotherapy Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.|College of Science, Chemistry Department, Al-Mustansirya University, Baghdad, Iraq.
authors.forename: Israa G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Akram
authors.affiliation: Toxicology and Chemotherapy Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.|Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Al-Baath University, Homs, Syria.
authors.forename: Rania
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Georges
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hielscher
authors.affiliation: Toxicology and Chemotherapy Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.|Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, German University of Cairo, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adwan
authors.affiliation: Toxicology and Chemotherapy Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. m.berger@dkfz.de.
authors.forename: Martin R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000235:genetics; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D054388:Receptors, CCR / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054388:Receptors, CCR
keywords: Chemokine receptors; Colorectal cancer cell lines; Colorectal cancer progression; Gene knockdown; Liver colonization