The CCL2/CCR2 axis enhances IL-6-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition by cooperatively activating STAT3-Twist signaling

Tumour Biol. 2015 Feb;36(2):973-81. doi: 10.1007/s13277-014-2717-z. Epub 2014 Oct 16.

Abstract

The pattern of secreted factors in the tumor microenvironment has been shown to initiate tumor epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT); however, little is known about their interplay undergoing this phenotypic switch. In this study, we revealed obvious coactions of cytokine IL-6 and chemokine CCL2 during EMT induction. We found that IL-6 effectively induced EMT and promoted tumor cell invasion, which could be markedly enhanced by addition of CCL2 in a CCR2-dependent manner. IL-6 and CCL2 induced each other and cooperatively elicited STAT3 phosphorylation; conversely, STAT3 regulated the production of IL-6 and CCL2, thus constituting a positive feedback loop to maintain and amplify STAT3 signaling, consequently promoting additional EMT events. Furthermore, CCL2 greatly enhanced IL-6-induced EMT events mainly by upregulating the expression of Twist. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of STAT3 disrupted STAT3-centered loop and markedly suppressed Twist expression as well as IL-6/CCL2-mediated EMT induction. Thus, our findings highlighted the synergy of the two secreted factors of tumor microenvironment, in regulating transformed properties of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chemokine CCL2 / genetics*
  • Chemokine CCL2 / metabolism
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Phosphorylation
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / biosynthesis*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • Twist-Related Protein 1 / biosynthesis*

Substances

  • Chemokine CCL2
  • IL6 protein, human
  • Interleukin-6
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • TWIST1 protein, human
  • Twist-Related Protein 1