Vascular endothelial growth factor induces CXCL1 chemokine release via JNK and PI-3K-dependent pathways in human lung carcinoma epithelial cells

Int J Mol Sci. 2013 May 10;14(5):10090-106. doi: 10.3390/ijms140510090.

Abstract

Lung cancer cells express different chemokines and chemokine receptors that modulate leukocyte infiltration within tumor microenvironment. In this study we screened several mediators/growth factors on CXCL1 release in human carcinoma epithelial cells. Of the tested mediators, VEGF was found to have a robust increase in causing CXCL1 release. VEGF stimulated CXCL1 release and mRNA expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The release was inhibited by the VEGF receptor antagonists and the JNK, PI-3K, tyrosine kinase, and transcription inhibitors. In parallel, VEGF induced JNK, PI3K and Akt activation. Strikingly, among these inhibitors only the JNK inhibitor could reduce VEGF-induced CXCL1 mRNA expression, suggesting that JNK participated in VEGF-induced CXCL1 synthesis, whereas PI-3K was responsible for cellular CXCL1 secretory process. In addition, the steroid dexamethasone and TGF-β suppressed CXCL1 release through a transcriptional regulation. We also showed that cells stimulated with VEGF significantly attracted monocyte migration, which could be abolished by CXCL1 B/N Ab, CXC receptor 2 antagonist, TGF-β, and dexamethasone. In summary, we provide here evidence showing JNK activation for VEGF-induced CXCL1 DNA transcription and PI-3K pathway for extracellular CXCL1 release in human carcinoma epithelial cells. The released CXCL1 was functionally linked to recruiting monocytes into lung cancer cell microenvironment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chemokine CXCL1 / genetics
  • Chemokine CXCL1 / immunology*
  • Epithelial Cells / immunology
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / pathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Lung / immunology*
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System*
  • Monocytes / immunology
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Monocytes / pathology
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / immunology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / immunology*

Substances

  • Chemokine CXCL1
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases