Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) regulates multiple cell signal pathways in a variety of cellular functions, including cell migration, proliferation, survival and angiogenesis. SDF-1-induced chemotaxis is an important step of lymphocyte migration. However, the molecular mechanisms that modulate SDF-1-mediated lymphocyte migration are not well identified. Nitric oxide (NO) has been found to function as a signaling molecule in a number of signaling pathways, including migration. In the present study, the potential role of NO in SDF-1-induced migration and the association between NO and the cytoskeletal changes of Jurkat cells was investigated. The present study demonstrated that Jurkat cells induced the production of NO by SDF-1 stimulation, using Griess reaction method and western blot analysis, and that NO was involved in SDF-1-induced rearrangement and polymerization of the cytoskeleton, using NOS inhibitor L-NMMA. Furthermore, NO was required for the migration of Jurkat cells. The research suggested that NO signaling pathways exerted a critical role in SDF-1-induced cytoskeleton changes and the migration of Jurkat cells. This work provides insight into the migration mechanism of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and provides an effective theoretical basis for therapy strategies for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Keywords: Jurkat; cytoskeleton; migration; nitric oxide; stromal cell-derived factor-1.