Crk-like adapter protein regulates CCL19/CCR7-mediated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via ERK signaling pathway in epithelial ovarian carcinomas

Med Oncol. 2015 Mar;32(3):47. doi: 10.1007/s12032-015-0494-1. Epub 2015 Jan 31.

Abstract

Recent studies have suggested that Crk-like adapter protein (CrkL) and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by CCL19/CCR7 play an important role in ovarian epithelial carcinogenesis. However, the regulatory mechanisms of CrkL on the CCL19/CCR7 signaling pathways in epithelial ovarian carcinomas (EOC) are not well characterized. Here, CCR7 and CrkL proteins were tested in 30 EOC tissues and cell lines. In vitro, the roles of CrkL in CCL19-stimulated SKOV-3 cell invasion and migration were investigated. In this work, CCR7 and CrkL over-expressed in EOC tissues and cell lines and correlated with FIGO stage and lymph node metastasis. Moreover, CCR7 and CrkL serve as an independent prognostic factor. In SKOV-3 cells, CrkL knockdown markedly suppressed the CCL19-stimulated expression of p-ERK and EMT biomarkers (N-cadherin, Snail and MMP9), compared with control. In contrast, p-AKT expression level did not change. On the other hand, functional analysis revealed CrkL knockdown could significantly decrease SKOV-3 cell invasion number of transwell invasion assay, and wound closure area of wound healing assay, compared to control. In conclusion, CrkL regulates CCL19/CCR7-induced EMT via ERK signaling pathway in EOC patients, which further suggested CrkL could be suggested as an efficient target in ovarian cancer treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Adult
  • Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Chemokine CCL19 / metabolism*
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / metabolism
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / mortality
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / pathology*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / mortality
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, CCR7 / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • CCL19 protein, human
  • CCR7 protein, human
  • CRKL protein
  • Chemokine CCL19
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Receptors, CCR7