Role of the VEGFR3/VEGFD receptor axis in TGFβ1 activation of primary prostate cell lines

S. M. Goodyear, S. B. Kheyfets, F. U. Garcia, M. E. Stearns

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND. Reports indicate that vascular endothelial growth factor receptor type 3 (VEGFR3) regulates cellular functions such as invasion, proliferation, and chemo-resistance. However, the exact function of the VEGFR3 signaling axis in prostate epithelial cells is poorly characterized. METHODS. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether TGFβ1 in combination with VEGFD can promote pre-malignant invasive activities of intermediate basal cells (IBC-10a) isolated from human prostate cancer (Gleason score 6). RESULTS. hTERT immortalized IBC-10a cells normally grew as confluent "cobblestoned" monolayers, but treatment with TGFβ1 (10 ng/ml for 2-6 hr) dissociated the cell-cell junctions and induced VEGFR3 translocation to the cell surface. This event was not inhibited by 10 μM cycloheximide or puromycin, indicating transcription and protein synthesis were not required. We further discovered that TGFβ1 in combination with VEGFD induced a significant increase in the invasive activity of IBC-10a cells (>26% and 53% after 24 and 48 hr, respectively) in modified Boyden Chamber assays. TGFβRII receptor antibodies specifically blocked TGFβ1 induction of VEGFR3 translocation to the cell surface and blocked VEGFD-induced invasion. Zymograms revealed that TGFβ1 (and not VEGFR3) stimulated the secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9, presumably to promote cell invasion. The cell invasion assays confirmed that antibodies specific for TGFβII receptor, MMP-2 and MMP-9 and VEGFR3, independently blocked TGFβ1-induced invasion. CONCLUSIONS. For the first time, we have demonstrated the mechanism by which TGFβ1 stimulates VEGFD/VEGFR3 receptor axis activation leading to increased cell migration and invasion by primary intermediate basal cell cultures.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)982-990
Number of pages9
JournalProstate
Volume69
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 15 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cell-cell junctions
  • Chemotaxis
  • Intermediate basal cells
  • Invasion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Urology

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