Dll4-Fc, an inhibitor of Dll4-notch signaling, suppresses liver metastasis of small cell lung cancer cells through the downregulation of the NF-κB activity

Mol Cancer Ther. 2012 Dec;11(12):2578-87. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-12-0640. Epub 2012 Sep 18.

Abstract

Notch signaling regulates cell-fate decisions during development and postnatal life. Little is known, however, about the role of Delta-like-4 (Dll4)-Notch signaling between cancer cells, or how this signaling affects cancer metastasis. We, therefore, assessed the role of Dll4-Notch signaling in cancer metastasis. We generated a soluble Dll4 fused to the IgG1 constant region (Dll4-Fc) that acts as a blocker of Dll4-Notch signaling and introduced it into human small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines expressing either high levels (SBC-3 and H1048) or low levels (SBC-5) of Dll4. The effects of Dll4-Fc on metastasis of SCLC were evaluated using a mouse model. Although Dll4-Fc had no effect on the liver metastasis of SBC-5, the number of liver metastasis inoculated with SBC-3 and H1048 cells expressing Dll4-Fc was significantly lower than that injected with control cells. To study the molecular mechanisms of the effects of Dll4-Fc on liver metastasis, a PCR array analysis was conducted. Because the expression of NF-κB target genes was affected by Dll4-Fc, we conducted an electrophoretic mobility shift assay and observed that NF-κB activities, both with and without stimulation by TNF-α, were downregulated in Dll4-Fc-overexpressing SBC-3 and H1048 cells compared with control cells. Moreover, Dll4-Fc attenuates, at least in part, the classical and alternative NF-κB activation pathway by reducing Notch1 signaling. These results suggest that Dll4-Notch signaling in cancer cells plays a critical role in liver metastasis of SCLC by regulating NF-κB signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Growth Processes / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / secondary*
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Notch / genetics
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / administration & dosage*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / genetics
  • Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / metabolism
  • Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / pathology
  • Transfection
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Dll4-Fc protein
  • NF-kappa B
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins