Activation of platelet protease-activated receptor-1 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition and chemotaxis of colon cancer cell line SW620

Oncol Rep. 2015 Jun;33(6):2681-8. doi: 10.3892/or.2015.3897. Epub 2015 Apr 3.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the role of protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1)-stimulated platelet activation in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migration of colon cancer cells, and to identify the underlying mechanisms. TFLLR-NH2, a PAR1 agonist, was used to activate platelets and the platelet supernatants were used to treat the SW620 colon cancer cell line. Expression of E-cadherin and vimentin on SW620 cells was detected by immunofluorescence and western blotting, and the level of the transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) was measured using ELISA following the activation of platelets by TFLLR-NH2. miR-200b expression was detected using quantitative PCR in SW620 cells. In order to investigate the chemotactic ability of the SW620 cells, the expression of CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) was measured by flow cytometry. Transwell migration assays were performed following exposure of the cells to the supernatant of PAR1-activated platelets. SW620 cells cultured in the supernatant of TFLLR-NH2-activated platelets upregulated E-cadherin expression and downregulated the vimentin expression. In the in vitro platelet culture system, a TFLLR-NH2 dose-dependent increase of secreted TGF-β1 was detected in the supernatant. The activation of PAR1 on the platelets led to the inhibition of miR-200b expression in the SW620 cells that were cultured in platelet-conditioned media. The number of SW620 cells that penetrated through the Transwell membrane increased with the dose of TFLLR-NH2 used to treat the platelets. The percentage of CXCR4-positive SW620 cells was significantly higher when they were exposed to the supernatant of platelets cultured for 24 h with PAR1 agonist than when cultured in non-conditioned media (40.89 ± 6.74 vs. 3.47 ± 1.40%, P < 0.01). Platelet activation with a PAR1 agonist triggered TGF-β secretion, which induced EMT of SW620 human colon cancer cells via the downregulation of miR-200b expression, and activated platelets had a chemotactic effect on colon cancer cells mediated by the upregulation of CXCR4 on the cell surface.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cadherins / biosynthesis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Chemotaxis / drug effects
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Colonic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / biosynthesis
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Oligopeptides / administration & dosage
  • Platelet Activation / genetics
  • Receptor, PAR-1 / biosynthesis*
  • Receptor, PAR-1 / genetics
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / genetics*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / biosynthesis
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / genetics*
  • Vimentin / biosynthesis

Substances

  • CXCR4 protein, human
  • Cadherins
  • MIRN200 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Oligopeptides
  • PAR-1-activating peptide
  • Receptor, PAR-1
  • Receptors, CXCR4
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Vimentin