Macrophage ERα promoted invasion of endometrial cancer cell by mTOR/KIF5B-mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition

Jing X, Xuanxuan Jing, Jin Peng, Peng J, Yu Dou, Jintang Sun, Sun J, Chao Ma, Ma C, Qingjie Wang, Wang Q, Lin Zhang, Zhang L, Luo X, Xia Luo, Beihua Kong, Kong B, Yun Zhang, Zhang Y, Wang L, Lijie Wang, Xun Qu
Immunology and cell biology · 2019 · doi:10.1111/imcb.12245 · PMID:30779215
other OA: closed public-domain-us
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Macrophage ERα promotes endometrial cancer cell invasion by inducing EMT through CCL18, KIF5B, and the mTOR signaling pathway.

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Abstract

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) exert tumor-promoting effects. There have been reports that estrogen receptors (ERs) are expressed on the infiltrating macrophages of endometriosis, ovarian cancer and lung cancer. However, the role of ERs in macrophages is not well characterized. In this study, we identified that ER alpha (ERα) expression on the macrophages of human endometrial cancer was positively correlated with cancer progression. Conditioned medium from selective ERα agonist-treated M2 macrophages induced the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in endometrial cancer cells. However, this effect can be inhibited by ERα antagonist. Here, we showed that macrophages ERα-engaged abundantly produced chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 18 (CCL18), and its expression promoted the invasion of endometrial cancer cells by activating the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 pathway, whereas suppressing CCL18 abrogated these effects. Furthermore, we identified that CCL18 derived from TAMs upregulated KIF5B expression to promote EMT via activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in endometrial cancer. Overall, our findings show how ERα-engaged infiltrating macrophages initiate chronic inflammation and promote the aggressive progression of endometrial cancer cells. ERα-positive TAMs act as drivers of endometrial cancer, which may become a potential therapeutic target.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometrial Neoplasms Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Estrogen Receptor alpha Macrophages Cell Line, Tumor Cell Movement Cell Proliferation Chemokines, CC Chemokines, CC Endometrial Neoplasms Endometrial Neoplasms Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Estrogen Receptor alpha Estrogen Receptor alpha Female Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic Humans Kinesins Kinesins Kinesins

Funding

funders
[{'doi': '10.13039/501100001809', 'name': 'National Natural Science Foundation of China', 'awards': ['31470885']}, {'doi': '10.13039/501100001809', 'name': 'National Natural Science Foundation of China', 'awards': ['81772879']}, {'doi': '10.13039/501100001809', 'name': 'National Natural Science Foundation of China', 'awards': ['31300752']}]

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References (45)

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