A synthetic biology approach reveals a CXCR4-G13-Rho signaling axis driving transendothelial migration of metastatic breast cancer cells

Sci Signal. 2011 Sep 20;4(191):ra60. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.2002221.

Abstract

Tumor cells can co-opt the promigratory activity of chemokines and their cognate G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to metastasize to regional lymph nodes or distant organs. Indeed, the migration toward SDF-1 (stromal cell-derived factor 1) of tumor cells bearing CXCR4 [chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4] has been implicated in the lymphatic and organ-specific metastasis of various human malignancies. Here, we used chimeric G proteins and GPCRs activated solely by artificial ligands to selectively activate the signaling pathways downstream of specific G proteins and showed that CXCR4-mediated chemotaxis and transendothelial migration of metastatic basal-like breast cancer cells required activation of Gα(13), a member of the Gα(12/13) G protein family, and of the small guanosine triphosphatase Rho. Multiple complementary experimental strategies, including synthetic biology approaches, indicated that signaling-selective inhibition of the CXCR4-Gα(13)-Rho axis prevents the metastatic spread of basal-like breast cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chemokine CXCL12 / genetics
  • Chemokine CXCL12 / metabolism*
  • Chemotaxis*
  • Female
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, G12-G13 / genetics
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, G12-G13 / metabolism*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / genetics
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / metabolism*
  • Synthetic Biology
  • Transplantation, Heterologous
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • CXCL12 protein, human
  • CXCR4 protein, human
  • Chemokine CXCL12
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Receptors, CXCR4
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, G12-G13
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins