缺氧对肝癌血管生成拟态的影响及其机制

Role and mechanism of vasculogenic mimicry induced by CCL21-CCR7 in micrometastasis of hilar cholangiocarcinoma

AIM: To explore whether chemokine receptor CCR7 promotes QBC939 cell proliferation, migration and invasion by inducing vasculogenic mimicry formation as well as the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS: Vasculogenic mimicry in QBC939 cells was tested by three-dimensional cell culture. Cell migration capabilities of groups of cells were detected by scratch test and Transwell chamber assay. Boyden chamber assay was used to detect the impact of CCL21-CCR7 on the invasive ability of QBC939 cells in vitro. MTT assay was used to detect the effect of CCL21-CCR7 on proliferation of QBC939 cells. The expression of CCR7 and the related six genes (Twist1, GAPDH, IL-8, VEGF, PDEF, PDCD4) in three groups of cells was detected by real-time PCR. All data were analyzed by analysis of variance and LSD-t test.

RESULTS: Compared with control cells, VM formation ability and cell proliferation were strengthened significantly in cells overexpressing CCR7 (t = 3.104, P < 0.05) and reduced in CCR7 silenced cells (t = 2.971, P < 0.05). Compared with control cells, cell migration capabilities were significantly increased in cells overexpressing CCR7 (Transwell: t = 2.652; Boyden: t = 2.967, P < 0.05) and reduced in CCR7-silenced cells (Transwell: t = 2.691; Boyden: t = 2.330, P < 0.05). Addition of CCL21 in control cells and cells overexpressing CCR7 significantly increased cell migration capabilities. Real-time PCR showed that the expression patterns of Twist1 in three groups of cells were consistent with those of CCR7.

CONCLUSION: Differential expression of CCL21-CCR7 has an effect on the formation of vasculogenic mimicry and can change bile duct cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion, possibly through epithelial-mesenchymal transformation mediated by Twist1.