Objectives: To determine whether granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (G-CSFR) autocrine signaling promotes endothelial cell adhesion and invasion of bladder cancer cells through a beta1-integrin-mediated pathway. A significant fraction of invasive bladder carcinomas express both G-CSF and G-CSFR. Bladder carcinoma cell line 5637 constitutively secretes G-CSF but lacks G-CSFR expression. Thus, we studied the effects of G-CSFR expression on cell adhesion and invasion in this unique model system.
Methods: Flow cytometry and adhesion assay were performed to detect expression of beta1-integrin in G-CSFR-expressing 5637 cells and adhesion of these cells to human umbilical vein endothelial cell, respectively. Furthermore, an invasion chamber assay was done with the 5637 cells. Next, we used the G-CSF-specific antibody, siRNA, and a truncated version of G-CSFR (GR19) to block G-CSFR autocrine loop in these cells. We also used a beta1-integrin-specific neutralizing antibody in the adhesion and invasion assays with the 5637 cells.
Results: G-CSFR-mediated increased expression (approximately threefold) of beta1-integrin is significantly abrogated by G-CSF specific antibody or siRNA in 5637 cells. GR19 also completely blocked beta1-integrin expression. G-CSFR signaling increased adhesion (approximately 2.5-fold) of 5637 cells to human umbilical vein endothelial cells, which are potently blocked by beta1-integrin-specific antibody. G-CSF/G-CSFR autocrine signaling significantly increased the invasiveness of 5637 cells (approximately 10-fold), which was reduced by either attenuating G-CSF production (G-CSF-specific antibody and siRNA) or interfering with G-CSFR signaling (GR19). Furthermore, beta1-integrin-specific antibody completely blocked G-CSFR-mediated invasion of 5637 cells.
Conclusions: Autocrine G-CSF/G-CSFR signaling in bladder cancer can significantly contribute to cancer cell adhesion and invasion in a beta1-integrin-dependent manner.