Type I collagen and divalent cation shifts disrupt cell-cell adhesion, increase migration, and decrease PTHrP, IL-6, and IL-8 expression in pancreatic cancer cells.

Background: We have shown in FG pancreatic cancer cells that alpha2beta1 integrin-mediated type I collagen adhesion decreases parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression, decreases the localization of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in cell-cell contacts, increases cell migration, and increases glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) and protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) phosphorylation states relative to alpha5beta1 integrin-mediated fibronectin (Fn) adhesion.

Aim of the study: To extend our observations in FG cells to other pancreatic cancer cell lines, and to determine whether E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion and its downstream effectors were functionally involved in the ECM-mediated regulation of PTHrP, IL-6, and IL-8.

Methods: We used standard biochemical techniques to determine ECM-specific differences in E-cadherin and beta-catenin localization, GSK3 and PKB/Akt phosphorylation, haptokinetic cell migration, and cytokine expression in pancreatic cancer cells. We also conducted functional studies using pharmacological inhibitors for GSK3 and PKB/Akt, as well as elevated Mg2+/Ca2+ ratios similar to pancreatic juice, and examined their effects on cytokine expression.

Results: Differences in E-cadherin and beta-catenin localization along with GSK3 and PKB/Akt phosphorylation occur in multiple pancreatic cancer cell lines, resulting in differences in ECM-mediated haptokinesis and cytokine expression that are generally consistent with previous observations in FG cells. Our functional studies also suggest that E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion and downstream effectors are involved in PTHrP, IL-6, and IL-8 expression.

Conclusions: These data indicate that alpha2beta1 integrin-mediated type I collagen adhesion disrupts cell-cell adhesion architecture, resulting in increased migration and decreased PTHrP, IL-6, and IL-8 expression in pancreatic cancer cells.