Depletion of beta-arrestin-2 promotes tumor growth and angiogenesis in a murine model of lung cancer

J Immunol. 2008 Apr 15;180(8):5699-706. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.180.8.5699.

Abstract

Arrestins are adaptor/scaffold proteins that complex with activated and phosphorylated G protein-coupled receptor to terminate G protein activation and signal transduction. These complexes also mediate downstream signaling, independently of G protein activation. We have previously shown that beta-arrestin-2 (betaarr2) depletion promotes CXCR2-mediated cellular signaling, including angiogenesis and excisional wound closure. This study was designed to investigate the role of betaarr2 in tumorigenesis using a murine model of lung cancer. To that end, heterotopic murine Lewis lung cancer and tail vein metastasis tumor model systems in betaarr2-deficient mice (betaarr2(-/-)) and control littermates (betaarr2(+/+)) were used. betaarr2(-/-) mice exhibited a significant increase in Lewis lung cancer tumor growth and metastasis relative to betaarr2(+/+) mice. This correlated with decreased number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes but with elevated levels of the ELR(+) chemokines (CXCL1/keratinocyte-derived chemokine and CXCL2/MIP-2), vascular endothelial growth factor, and microvessel density. NF-kappaB activity was also enhanced in betaarr2(-/-) mice, whereas hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha expression was decreased. Inhibition of CXCR2 or NF-kappaB reduced tumor growth in both betaarr2(-/-) and betaarr2(+/+) mice. NF-kappaB inhibition also decreased ELR(+) chemokines and vascular endothelial growth factor expression. Altogether, the data suggest that betaarr2 modulates tumorigenesis by regulating inflammation and angiogenesis through activation of CXCR2 and NF-kappaB.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arrestins / deficiency
  • Arrestins / immunology
  • Arrestins / metabolism*
  • Chemokines, CXC / immunology
  • Chemokines, CXC / metabolism*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / immunology
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-8B / immunology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-8B / metabolism*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism*
  • beta-Arrestin 2
  • beta-Arrestins

Substances

  • Arrb2 protein, mouse
  • Arrestins
  • Chemokines, CXC
  • Hif1a protein, mouse
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • NF-kappa B
  • Receptors, Interleukin-8B
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • beta-Arrestin 2
  • beta-Arrestins