Inflammation and cancer: role of annexin A1 and FPR2/ALX in proliferation and metastasis in human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

PLoS One. 2014 Dec 9;9(12):e111317. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111317. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

The anti-inflammatory protein annexin A1 (ANXA1) has been associated with cancer progression and metastasis, suggesting its role in regulating tumor cell proliferation. We investigated the mechanism of ANXA1 interaction with formylated peptide receptor 2 (FPR2/ALX) in control, peritumoral and tumor larynx tissue samples from 20 patients, to quantitate the neutrophils and mast cells, and to evaluate the protein expression and co-localization of ANXA1/FPR2 in these inflammatory cells and laryngeal squamous cells by immunocytochemistry. In addition, we performed in vitro experiments to further investigate the functional role of ANXA1/FPR2 in the proliferation and metastasis of Hep-2 cells, a cell line from larynx epidermoid carcinoma, after treatment with ANXA1(2-26) (annexin A1 N-terminal-derived peptide), Boc2 (antagonist of FPR) and/or dexamethasone. Under these treatments, the level of Hep-2 cell proliferation, pro-inflammatory cytokines, ANXA1/FPR2 co-localization, and the prostaglandin signalling were analyzed using ELISA, immunocytochemistry and real-time PCR. An influx of neutrophils and degranulated mast cells was detected in tumor samples. In these inflammatory cells of peritumoral and tumor samples, ANXA1/FPR2 expression was markedly exacerbated, however, in laryngeal carcinoma cells, this expression was down-regulated. ANXA1(2-26) treatment reduced the proliferation of the Hep-2 cells, an effect that was blocked by Boc2, and up-regulated ANXA1/FPR2 expression. ANXA1(2-26) treatment also reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and affected the expression of metalloproteinases and EP receptors, which are involved in the prostaglandin signalling. Overall, this study identified potential roles for the molecular mechanism of the ANXA1/FPR2 interaction in laryngeal cancer, including its relationship with the prostaglandin pathway, providing promising starting points for future research. ANXA1 may contribute to the regulation of tumor growth and metastasis through paracrine mechanisms that are mediated by FPR2/ALX. These data may lead to new biological targets for therapeutic intervention in human laryngeal cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Annexin A1 / chemistry
  • Annexin A1 / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology*
  • Cell Degranulation / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / immunology
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Male
  • Mast Cells / cytology
  • Mast Cells / drug effects
  • Metalloproteases / metabolism
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neutrophils / drug effects
  • Neutrophils / immunology
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology
  • Prostaglandins / metabolism
  • Receptors, Formyl Peptide / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Lipoxin / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP3 Subtype / metabolism
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects

Substances

  • Annexin A1
  • FPR2 protein, human
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Prostaglandins
  • Receptors, Formyl Peptide
  • Receptors, Lipoxin
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP3 Subtype
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype
  • Metalloproteases

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo - FAPESP (grants 2008/08187-4 to SMO and 2008/01655-2 to TSG) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq (grant 302768/2010-6 to SMO). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.