Nickel promotes the invasive potential of human lung cancer cells via TLR4/MyD88 signaling

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a close correlation between nickel exposure and the incidence of lung cancer. Several studies have suggested that nickel contributes to tumor progression of human lung cancer. In this in vitro study, we found that nickel, as nickel chloride, could significantly enhance the invasive potential of human lung cancer cells, accompanied by elevated expression of IL-8, TGF-β, MMP2 and MMP9 in human lung cancer cells. Importantly, we demonstrated that nickel could activate TLR4 signaling in human lung cancer cells. Further studies showed that the TLR4/MyD88 signaling conferred the enhanced invasive potential of human lung cancer cells induced by nickel. Finally, we revealed that the p38MAPK pathway and NF-kB pathway were necessary for the enhanced invasive potential of human lung cancer cells induced by nickel. Our data provide a mechanistic explanation for nickel induced invasion of human lung cancer, and they suggest new strategies for nickel-related lung cancer clinical biotherapies.

► Nickel enhances the invasive potential of human lung cancer cell lines.
► Nickel activates the TLR4 signaling in human lung cancer cell lines.
► TLR4/MyD88 signaling confers the nickel enhanced invasive potential.
► The p38MAPK and NF-kB pathway are required for nickel enhanced invasive potential.