Loss of NDRG2 in liver microenvironment inhibits cancer liver metastasis by regulating tumor associate macrophages polarization

Cell Death Dis. 2018 Feb 14;9(2):248. doi: 10.1038/s41419-018-0284-8.

Abstract

The liver is the predominant metastatic site for several types of malignancies. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the liver play crucial roles in the metastasis process. Shifting tumor-promoting M2-like TAMs toward the M1-like phenotype, which exerts tumor suppressor functions via phagocytosis and the secretion of inhibitory factors, may be a potential therapeutic strategy for liver cancer metastasis treatment.We first cloned NDRG2 (N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2) and verified its tumor suppressor role in multiple solid tumors, including colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, its role in the tumor-associated liver microenvironment, especially in TAMs, has not been illustrated. By establishing a liver cancer metastasis model in wild-type (WT) and Ndrg2 knockout (Ndrg2-/-) mice, we found that the loss of the tumor suppressor Ndrg2 in liver microenvironment significantly suppressed the growth of liver colonies. In addition, this process was accompanied by a higher proportion of M1-like TAM infiltration in Ndrg2-/- mice. Interestingly, bone marrow (BM) transplantation revealed that BM-derived macrophages (BMDMs) rather than liver resident Kupffer cells were responsible for the inhibitory effect. We further demonstrated that loss of Ndrg2 influenced TAM polarization via the NF-κB pathway. Inhibition of IκBα phosphorylation in cancer cell-conditioned medium-stimulated BMDMs decreased M1 marker expression in Ndrg2-/- macrophages. Finally, in vitro, invasion, migration, and proliferation assays confirmed that NF-κB participated in the tumor suppressor function of Ndrg2-/- macrophages. Collectively, our findings highlight the role of NDRG2 in the regulation of TAM polarization and its function in promoting cancer liver metastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / therapy
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Kupffer Cells / metabolism
  • Kupffer Cells / pathology
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / genetics*
  • Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / therapy
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Macrophages / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha / genetics
  • NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / genetics*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Proteins / genetics*
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Microenvironment / genetics

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • NF-kappa B
  • Ndr2 protein, mouse
  • Proteins
  • NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha