P2Y2R activation by nucleotides released from the highly metastatic breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231 contributes to pre-metastatic niche formation by mediating lysyl oxidase secretion, collagen crosslinking, and monocyte recruitment

Oncotarget. 2014 Oct 15;5(19):9322-34. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.2427.

Abstract

Tumor microenvironmental hypoxia induces hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) overexpression, leading to the release of lysyl oxidase (LOX), which crosslinks collagen at distant sites to facilitate environmental changes that allow cancer cells to easily metastasize. Our previous study showed that activation of the P2Y2 receptor (P2Y2R) by ATP released from MDA-MB-231 cells increased MDA-MB-231 cell invasion through endothelial cells. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the role of P2Y2R in breast cancer cell metastasis to distant sites. ATP or UTP released from hypoxia-treated MDA-MB-231 cells induced HIF-1α expression and LOX secretion by the activation of P2Y2R, and this phenomenon was significantly reduced in P2Y2R-depleted MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, P2Y2R-mediated LOX release induced collagen crosslinking in an in vitro model. Finally, nude mice injected with MDA-MB-231 cells showed high levels of LOX secretion, crosslinked collagen and CD11b+ BMDC recruitment in the lung; however, mice that were injected with P2Y2R-depleted MDA-MB-231 cells did not exhibit these changes. These results demonstrate that P2Y2R plays an important role in activation of the HIF-1α-LOX axis, the induction of collagen crosslinking and the recruitment of CD11b+ BMDCs. Furthermore, P2Y2R activation by nucleotides recruits THP-1 monocytes, resulting in primary tumor progression and pre-metastatic niche formation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • CD11b Antigen / metabolism
  • Cell Hypoxia
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Disease Progression
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / biosynthesis
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Monocytes / immunology*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / pathology*
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Nucleotides / metabolism*
  • Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2Y2 / genetics
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2Y2 / metabolism*
  • Serine Endopeptidases / genetics
  • Transplantation, Heterologous
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • CD11b Antigen
  • HIF1A protein, human
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • ITGAM protein, human
  • Nucleotides
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2Y2
  • Collagen
  • Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase
  • CTRL protein, human
  • Serine Endopeptidases