Expression of functional chemokine receptors CXCR3 and CXCR4 on human melanoma cells

J Biol Chem. 2001 Nov 30;276(48):45098-105. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M106912200. Epub 2001 Sep 24.

Abstract

Chemokines are secreted into the tumor microenvironment by tumor-infiltrating inflammatory cells as well as by tumor cells. Chemokine receptors mediate agonist-dependent cell responses, including migration and activation of several signaling pathways. In the present study we show that several human melanoma cell lines and melanoma cells on macroscopically infiltrated lymph nodes express the chemokine receptors CXCR3 and CXCR4. Using the highly invasive melanoma cell line BLM, we demonstrate that the chemokine Mig, a ligand for CXCR3, activates the small GTPases RhoA and Rac1, induces a reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, and triggers cell chemotaxis and modulation of integrin VLA-5- and VLA-4-dependent cell adhesion to fibronectin. Furthermore, the chemokine SDF-1alpha, the ligand of CXCR4, triggered modulation of beta(1) integrin-dependent melanoma cell adhesion to fibronectin. Additionally, Mig and SDF-1alpha activated MAPKs p44/42 and p38 on melanoma cells. Expression of functional CXCR3 and CXCR4 receptors on melanoma cells indicates that they might contribute to cell motility during invasion as well as to regulation of cell proliferation and survival.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Division
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Survival
  • Chemotaxis
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Fibronectins / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Ligands
  • Melanoma / metabolism*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptors, CXCR3
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / biosynthesis*
  • Receptors, Chemokine / biosynthesis*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Time Factors
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Actins
  • CXCR3 protein, human
  • Fibronectins
  • Ligands
  • Receptors, CXCR3
  • Receptors, CXCR4
  • Receptors, Chemokine
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein