Roles for GP IIb/IIIa and αvβ3 integrins in MDA-MB-231 cell invasion and shear flow-induced cancer cell mechanotransduction

• GP IIb/IIIa and αvβ3 integrins and their activation facilitate MDA-MB-231 cell invasion.
• Low shear stress up-regulated the expression of MMP-2/-9, VEGF, and αvβ3 integrin.
• αvβ3 integrin as a mechanosensor could transduce fluid shear stress into intracellular signals.
• cross-talking of PI3K/Akt and NF-κB pathways synergistically promoted MDA-MB-231 cell invasion.
• The present study provides new insights into the mechanism of mechanical loading-induced hematogenous metastasis.

Adhesion of cancer cell to endothelial cells and the subsequent trans-endothelial migration are key steps in hematogenous metastasis. However, the molecular mechanisms of cancer cell/endothelial cell interaction under hemodynamic shear flow and how shear flow-induced cancer cell mechanotransduction are yet to be fully defined. In this study, we identified that the integrins of both platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GP IIb/IIIa) and αvβ3 were crucial for hematogenous metastasis of human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231cells. The cell migration and invasion were studied by using Millicell cell culture insert system. The numbers of invaded MDA-MB-231 cells significantly increased by thrombin-activated platelets and reduced by eptifibatide, a platelet inhibitor. Meanwhile, RGDWE peptides, a specific inhibitor of αvβ3 integrin, also inhibited MDA-MB-231 cell invasion. We further used a parallel-plate flow chamber to investigate MDA-MB-231 cell adhesion under flow conditions. Alike in static condition, the adhesion capability of MDA-MB-231 cells to endothelial monolayer was also significantly affected by GP IIb/IIIa and αvβ3 integrins. The expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9 and αvβ3 integrin in MDA-MB-231 cells were up-regulated after low shear stress exposure (1.84 dynes/cm2, 2 h). Moreover, we also demonstrated that low shear stress induced a sustained activation of p85 (a regulatory subunit of PI3K) and Akt. Pre-treating MDA-MB-231 cells with the specific PI3K inhibitor of LY294002 abolished the shear stress induced-Akt activation, and the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and αvβ3 integrin were also down-regulated. Immunofluorescence assay showed that low shear stress also induced αvβ3 integrin clustering and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation. Interestingly, shear stress-induced activation of Akt and NF-κB was attenuated by LM609, a specific antibody of αvβ3 integrin. It suggests that αvβ3 integrin might be as a mechanosensor to trigger both PI3K/Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways. Taken together, these results establish that GP IIb/IIIa and αvβ3 integrins are essential mediators, and provide insight into how shear stress-induced αvβ3 integrin activation and the downstream pathways for contribution to MDA-MB-231 cell adhesion, migration and invasion.