Contribution of the PI3K/MMPs/Ln-5γ2 and EphA2/FAK/Paxillin signaling pathways to tumor growth and vasculogenic mimicry of gallbladder carcinomas

  • Authors:
    • Xin-Sui Lu
    • Wei Sun
    • Chun-Yan Ge
    • Wen-Zhong Zhang
    • Yue-Zu Fan
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  • Published online on: April 15, 2013     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2013.1897
  • Pages: 2103-2115
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Abstract

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is a new tumor blood supply in some highly aggressive malignant tumors. We previously reported VM in human gallbladder carcinomas, 3-D matrices in vitro and nude mouse xenografts in vivo of highly aggressive GBC-SD cells and its clinical significance. In this study, we further studied the underlying mechanisms of VM in gallbladder carcinomas via the 3-D matrix in vitro, the nude mouse xenografts in vivo of GBC-SD or SGC-996 cells, immunohistochemistry (H&E staining and CD31-PAS double staining), electron microscopy, expression of MMP-2, MT1-MMP, PI3K, Ln-5γ2, EphA2, FAK and Paxillin-P proteins/mRNAs determined by SABC, ELISA, immunofluorescence, western blotting and qRT-PCR, respectively. It was shown that all of untreated highly aggressive GBC-SD cells and xenografts formed vasculogenic-like structures within 2 weeks of seeding and injecting, and facilitated the growth of tumor cells or xenografts; whereas poorly aggressive SGC-996 cells or GBC-SD cells treated by TIMP-2 were unable to form the vasculogenic-like structures with the same conditions; and tumor xenograft growth was inhibited. Expression of MMP-2, MT1-MMP proteins/mRNAs from sections and supernates of 3-D matrix in vitro, expression of PI3K, MMP-2, MT1-MMP, Ln-5γ2, EphA2, FAK and Paxillin-P proteins/mRNAs from sections of xenografts in vivo in untreated GBC-SD group was upregulated significantly (all P<0.001); however, expression of these VM signal-related proteins/mRNAs in the SGC-996 group and GBC-SD treated by the TIMP-2 group was significantly downregulated (all P<0.001). Thus, we identified for the first time that highly aggressive GBC-SD cells formed VM in vitro and in vivo through the upregulation of PI3K/MMPs/Ln-5γ2 and/or EphA2/FAK/Paxillin signaling. PI3K/MMPs/Ln-5γ2 and EphA2/FAK/Paxillin as key signaling pathways in a coordinated manner contributed to tumor growth and VM of gallbladder carcinomas and provided novel targets that could be potentially exploited for therapeutic intervention of human gallbladder carcinomas.
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June 2013
Volume 42 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Lu X, Sun W, Ge C, Zhang W and Fan Y: Contribution of the PI3K/MMPs/Ln-5γ2 and EphA2/FAK/Paxillin signaling pathways to tumor growth and vasculogenic mimicry of gallbladder carcinomas. Int J Oncol 42: 2103-2115, 2013.
APA
Lu, X., Sun, W., Ge, C., Zhang, W., & Fan, Y. (2013). Contribution of the PI3K/MMPs/Ln-5γ2 and EphA2/FAK/Paxillin signaling pathways to tumor growth and vasculogenic mimicry of gallbladder carcinomas. International Journal of Oncology, 42, 2103-2115. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2013.1897
MLA
Lu, X., Sun, W., Ge, C., Zhang, W., Fan, Y."Contribution of the PI3K/MMPs/Ln-5γ2 and EphA2/FAK/Paxillin signaling pathways to tumor growth and vasculogenic mimicry of gallbladder carcinomas". International Journal of Oncology 42.6 (2013): 2103-2115.
Chicago
Lu, X., Sun, W., Ge, C., Zhang, W., Fan, Y."Contribution of the PI3K/MMPs/Ln-5γ2 and EphA2/FAK/Paxillin signaling pathways to tumor growth and vasculogenic mimicry of gallbladder carcinomas". International Journal of Oncology 42, no. 6 (2013): 2103-2115. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2013.1897