Role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in in vitro invasion of esophageal carcinoma cells

Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 Induced in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells via Close Contact with Tumor-Associated Macrophages Contributes to Cancer Progression and Poor Prognosis

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) contribute to disease progression in various cancers, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We have previously used an indirect co-culture system between ESCC cell lines and macrophages to analyze their interactions. Recently, we established a direct co-culture system to closely simulate actual ESCC cell-TAM contact. We found that matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) was induced in ESCC cells by direct co-culture with TAMs, not by indirect co-culture. MMP9 was associated with ESCC cell migration and invasion, and its expression was controlled by the Stat3 signaling pathway in vitro. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that MMP9 expression in cancer cells at the invasive front ("cancer cell MMP9") was related to high infiltration of CD204 positive M2-like TAMs (p < 0.001) and was associated with worse overall and disease-free survival of patients (p = 0.036 and p = 0.038, respectively). Furthermore, cancer cell MMP9 was an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival. Notably, MMP9 expression in cancer stroma was not associated with any clinicopathological factors or patient prognoses. Our results suggest that close interaction with TAMs infiltrating in cancer stroma or cancer nests induces MMP9 expression in ESCC cells, equipping them with more malignant features.

Fluoroquinolones Suppress TGF-β and PMA-Induced MMP-9 Production in Cancer Cells: Implications in Repurposing Quinolone Antibiotics for Cancer Treatment

BACKGROUND

Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are potent antimicrobials with multiple effects on host cells and tissues. Although FQs can attenuate cancer invasion and metastasis, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has functional roles in tumor angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis, and is associated with cancer progression and poor prognosis, suggesting that inhibitors of MMP-9 activity and transcription are prime candidates for cancer therapy. Despite numerous preclinical data supporting the use of MMP-9 inhibitors as anticancer drugs, the few available examples are not therapeutically useful due to low specificity and off-target effects. We examined the effects of FQs on MMP-9 production in cancer cells following transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulation.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHES

Using confluent cultures of HepG2 and A549 cells, the effects of FQs (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, clinafloxacin, gatifloxacin, and enrofloxacin) on TGF-β and PMA-induced MMP-9 mRNA expression and production were studied in RNA extracts and culture supernatants, respectively. FQs specifically abrogated TGF-β and PMA-induced MMP-9 levels and activity in a concentration and time-dependent manner, without affecting other MMPs or proteins involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Additionally, FQs inhibited TGF-β and PMA-induced cell migration via p38 and cyclic AMP signaling pathways.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Overall, we demonstrated that FQs inhibit cancer cell migration and invasion by downregulating MMP-9 expression and revealed the cellular mechanisms underlying their potential value in cancer treatment.

A new gene panel as a marker for ESCC poor prognosis; INPP5A, TWIST1, MMP2, and EGFR

PURPOSE

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is categorized among ten common aggressive malignancies, with a higher incidence and mortality rates in the developing than in developed countries. The inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase (INPP5A), as an intracellular-calcium mobilizer and modifier enzyme, facilitates cell responses to various stimuli. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a transformation procedure, has a vital role in cancer progression and metastasis when epithelial cells lose their traits in favor of obtaining mesenchymal features. In this study, we analyzed the correlation between the expression of INPP5A and the involved genes in EMT pathway through the progression and development of the ESCCs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The gene expression analyses of INPP5A, TWIST1, MMP-2, and EGFR were performed using relative comparative real-time PCR in 58 ESCCs patients compared to corresponding margin-normal esophageal tissues.

RESULTS

A significant inverse correlation between INPP5A and EGFR/MMP-2 mRNA expression was observed in tumor samples. Underexpression of INPP5A was significantly correlated with overexpression of TWIST1, MMP-2, and EGFR in different invasiveness and aggressiveness pathological features of the ESCCs (P ​< ​0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results propose a tumor suppressor role for INPP5A and oncogenic function for concomitant expression of the other genes in ESCC invasion and metastasis. The current study is the first report elucidating the correlation between the downregulation of INPP5A and upregulation of TWIST1, MMP-2, and EGFR in ESCC and introduces this panel of the genes as a marker for poor prognosis of the disease.

The matrix protein CCN1/CYR61 is required for α(V)β5-mediated cancer cell migration

CYR61 is one of the six proteins of the CCN family of proteins known to play diverse roles in angiogenesis, cellular proliferation, survival, migration and wound healing. However, the specific function of CYR61 in cancer is unclear, and the literature remains controversial. We used quantitative real-time PCR to establish the expression profile of CYR61 and integrin α(V)β5 in three non-small cell lung cancer, five colorectal cancer, one breast cancer and one oesophageal squamous carcinoma cell lines. We showed that the levels of CYR61 were significantly increased in oesophageal squamous carcinoma cell line along with the enhanced levels of α(V)β5 integrin. Further, we investigated whether tumour cell-secreted CYR61 can facilitate cell migration by interacting with the α(V)β5 integrin. Using tumour cell lines with low, intermediate and high CYR61 expression and their isogenic variants as a cellular model, we determined that integrin α(V)β5 expressed on these tumour cells is required for cell migration. Moreover, we showed that the modulation of expression levels of CYR61 in these cancer cells affected their capacity for migration. These results represent an advance to the understanding of the role of CYR61 and α(V)β5 integrin as proteins that cooperate to mediate cancer cell migration.

Effects of RNAi-mediated matrix metalloproteinase-2 gene silencing on the invasiveness and adhesion of esophageal carcinoma cells, KYSE150

BACKGROUND

Esophageal carcinoma is one of the main malignancies in China. Previous studies indicated that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play important roles in the process of tumor invasion and metastasis in several types of solid tumors. Among all of the MMPs, MMP-2 is one of the MMPs closely associated with tumor invasion. In this study, we suppressed MMP-2 expression with RNA interference and then observed inhibitory effects on the invasion and migration of the esophageal carcinoma cell line KYSE150.

METHODS

Three target sequences were selected and siRNA against MMP-2 mRNA were synthesized. After being transfected by the transfection complexes, the MMP-2 expression of KYSE150 cells, which overexpresses MMP-2, were examined by Western blot analysis and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Cell migration and invasion were measured with migration assay and Boyden chamber assays, respectively.

RESULTS

RNAi against MMP-2 successfully inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of MMP-2 in the esophageal carcinoma cell line KYSE150. MMP-2 knockdown inhibited the invasion and migration of esophageal carcinoma cell line KYSE150.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggested that the RNAi approach towards MMP-2 may be a potentially effective therapeutic method for the treatment of esophageal carcinoma.

Overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase 10 is associated with poor survival in patients with early stage of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Matrix metallopeptidase 10 (MMP10) is frequently expressed and correlates closely with metastasis and poor prognosis in various human cancers. However, the significance of MMP10 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its role in ESCC progression remains unclear. In this report, upregulation of MMP10 mRNA was detected in 39/60 (65.0%) of primary ESCC tissues compared with their paired nontumor esophageal tissues. Tissue microarray (TMA) study found protein overexpression of MMP10 in 188/239 (78.7%) of primary ESCC tissues but not in their corresponding nontumor esophageal tissues, suggesting that overexpression of MMP10 may play important roles in ESCC development and progression. Although the overexpression of MMP10 was not significantly associated with disease-specific survival rate (P= 0.182) for all tested ESCCs, it was significantly associated with poorer disease-specific survival (P= 0.001) in early stage of ESCCs (I-IIA). In addition, multivariate analysis found that MMP10 expression in tumor tissues was evaluated as a potential independent prognostic factor for early stage ESCC patients. These findings suggest that MMP10 plays an important role in ESCC progression in the early stage, and overexpression of MMP10 in tumor tissues could be used as a potential prognostic marker for patients with early clinical stage of ESCC.

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its correlation with angiogenesis

AIM: To investigate the expression of COX-2 and MMP-9 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and explore its correlation with angiogenesis.

METHODS: Ninety tumor specimens from patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were obtained, and 34 corresponding paracancerous normal tissues were randomly selected as controls. Immunohistochemical staining was used for detecting the expression of COX-2 and MMP-9. Monoclonal antibody against CD34 was used for displaying vascular endothelial cells, and microvascular density (MVD) was determined by counting of CD34-positive vascular endothelial cells.

RESULTS: The positive expression rates of COX-2 and MMP-9 and MVD in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were significantly higher than those in the normal esophageal mucosa (84.8% vs 20.6%, 82.2% vs 14.7% and 29.70 ± 3.82 vs 15.10 ± 2.38, respectively; all P < 0.01).The expression of COX-2 was closely related to UICC-AJCC TMN stage, cellular differentiation and lymph node metastasis (all P < 0.01), while the expression of MMP-9 and MVD was closely related to UICC-AJCC TMN stage and lymph node metastasis (both P < 0.01). COX-2 expression was positively correlated to MVD (r = 0.607, P < 0.01) and MMP-9 expression (r = 0.740, P < 0.01), while MMP-9 expression was also positively correlated to MVD (r = 0.718, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Both COX-2 and MMP-9 play an important role in the angiogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The expression of COX-2 and MMP-9 and tumor neovascularization are closely related to tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis.

Overexpression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are known to play important roles in extracellular matrix remodeling during the process of tumor invasion and metastasis. However, little is known about their role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in ESCC was detected in our research. Tissue microarray chip was prepared, consisting of 58 cases of ESCC and corresponding esophageal epithelium tissues. MMP-2 and MMP-9 were examined by immunohistochemistry. Overexpression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was found in ESCC (42.1 and 60.3%, respectively), compared with paired distal normal esophageal tissues (22.9 and 8.9%, respectively). Expression of MMP-2 in ESCC was significantly associated with the tumor invasion depth, tumor-node-metastasis stages, and lymph node metastasis. MMP-2 and MMP-9 may play important roles in carcinogenesis, and MMP-2 may act as a biological marker of invasion and lymph node metastasis in ESCC.

Inhibition of hepatocarcinoma and tumor metastasis to liver by gene therapy with recombinant CBD-HepII polypeptide of fibronectin

Unlike the intact fibronectin (FN) molecule, some proteolytic or recombinant fragments of FN possess inhibitory activities on tumor, providing potential strategies in tumor therapeutics. Using the hydrodynamics-based gene delivery technique, we demonstrated that the treatment by in vivo expression of a recombinant CBD-HepII polypeptide of FN, designated as CH50, strongly inhibited the tumor growth, tumor invasion and angiogenesis. Such inhibitory effects of CH50 on tumor were partly ascribed to its influence on the activities of MMP-9 and alphavbeta3 integrin. The in vivo expressed CH50 decreased both the production and the activity of MMP-9 in tumor tissues. CH50 also down-regulated alphavbeta3 expression in tumor cells and endothelial cells in vitro. The decreased activity of alphavbeta3 integrin was proved by its reduced binding ability to fibrinogen and the down-regulation of cdc2 expression. The gene therapy with CH50 not only prolonged the survival of mice bearing hepatocarcinoma in the liver, but also suppressed the growth and invasive ability of tumor in spleen and its metastasis to liver. Taken together, these findings suggest a prospective utility of CH50 in the gene therapy of liver cancer.

Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase activity and growth of gastric adenocarcinoma cells by an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor in in vitro and murine models

INTRODUCTION

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) shares structural homology with the matrix metalloproteinase family of proteolytic enzymes (MMPs) responsible for degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). ACE inhibitors have been reported to protect against cancer in patients. The aim of this study was to determine whether the ACE inhibitor, captopril, could impair the activity of MMPs and impact on tumour invasion and growth in a cell line and murine model.

METHODS

For proof of principle, the protein activity of human MMP-2 and MMP-9 produced by the HT1080 fibrosarcoma cell line was detected using gelatin zymography. Gene expression was determined by real time reverse transcriptase PCR and tumour cell invasion using Matrigel invasion chambers. The effect of captopril on the in vivo growth of MGLVA-1 human gastric adenocarcinoma xenografts was evaluated in a nude mouse model.

RESULTS

Captopril inhibited activity of secreted MMP-9 and MMP-2, however, gene expression in HT1080 remained unaltered. Invasion of HT1080 cells was inhibited by 48% (p<0.001). Tumour size was reduced by 40-50% with 0.4 mg/ml captopril (p<0.01) and when combined with cisplatin the inhibition increased to 71% (p<0.05).

DISCUSSION

ACE inhibitors inhibit the activity of secreted MMP-2 and -9 by a mechanism similar to synthetic MMP inhibitors. ACE inhibitors have previously been shown to inhibit tumour growth, however; this is the first study to demonstrate inhibition of a human gastric xenograft, both alone and in combination with cisplatin. These results support further investigation into the anticancer effects of ACE inhibitors.

Activity of the matrix metalloproteinase-9 promoter in human normal and tumor cells

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) belong to a family of proteins essential for those processes involving extracellular matrix degradation, such as embryonic development, morphogenesis, and tissue resorption and remodeling. Some members of this family play a crucial role also in tumor invasion. Most notably, MMP-9 is expressed in invasive tumors, and represents a key protein in brain tumor progression, whereas it is not expressed in adult normal tissues. The expression of the MMP-9, like other members of the family, is transcriptionally regulated. We, therefore, postulated that the MMP-9 promoter could be useful in driving selective expression of exogenous genes in tumor cells. This represents a key feature for gene therapy applications, since currently employed viral promoters induce severe organ toxicity, limiting the clinical benefits. In this study, we investigated the activity of the MMP-9 promoter in driving exogenous gene expression in human cell lines. High levels of reporter gene expression were detected in tumor derived cell lines, whereas the MMP-9 promoter activity in non-tumor cells was negligible. Furthermore, we show that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) is able to enhance considerably the MMP-9 promoter activity only in tumor cells. Since recent studies have indicated that MMP-9 enzymatic activity is detectable in the blood, it would be possible to screen potential responsive patients for a tumor gene therapy approach based on the MMP-9 promoter. Taken together these data suggest that MMP-9 promoter has the characteristics for transcritpionally targeted and inducible gene therapy applications.

Increased expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are known to play an important role in extracellular matrix remodeling during the process of tumor invasion and metastasis. However, little is known about their role in preinvasive lesions and early esophageal carcinomas.

METHOD

Immunohistochemical analysis of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression was carried out in paraffin-embedded sections of surgically resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) (58 cases) and paired distal normal esophageal tissues (44 cases) and correlated with clinicopathological parameters.

RESULT

Overexpression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins was observed in 39 (67%) and 32 (55%) of the 58 ESCCs, respectively localized in tumor cell cytoplasm and stromal elements. Histological evaluation of hematoxylin- and eosin-stained 44 matched distal normal esophageal tissue sections revealed that 26 comprised of normal epithelium, while 15 tissues showed evidence of dysplasia and three tissues showed hyperplasia. Interestingly, 12 (80%) and 13 (87%) of these 15 dysplasias showed immunostaining for MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins, respectively. Low levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were observed in 10 (38%) and 6 (23%) of 26 matched histologically normal esophageal tissues, respectively. Higher MMP-2 immunopositivity was observed in well and moderately differentiated SCCs in comparison with poorly differentiated tumors. The expression of MMP-2 was significantly reduced with the progressive de-differentiation of esophageal SCCs ( P =0.03). Overexpression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in dysplasia as well as SCC suggests that these alterations occur in early stages of esophageal tumorigenesis.

CONCLUSION

Increased levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins in ESCCs as compared to normal esophageal tissues suggest their association with esophageal tumorigenesis. Increased levels of these MMPs are observed in majority of dysplasias analyzed herein, indicating that these alterations may be early events in esophageal tumorigenesis. In-depth studies are warranted to determine their role in development and progression of esophageal cancer.