Matrix metalloproteinase-9 promotes chronic lymphocytic leukemia b cell survival through its hemopexin domain

Cancer Cell. 2010 Feb 17;17(2):160-72. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2009.12.044.

Abstract

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is the major MMP produced by B-CLL cells and contributes to their tissue infiltration by degrading extracellular and membrane-anchored substrates. Here we describe a different function for MMP-9 in B-CLL, which involves the hemopexin domain rather than its catalytic function. Binding of soluble or immobilized (pro)MMP-9, a catalytically inactive proMMP-9 mutant, or the MMP-9 hemopexin domain to its docking receptors alpha4beta1 integrin and CD44v, induces an intracellular signaling pathway that prevents B-CLL apoptosis. This pathway is induced in all B-CLL cases, is active in B-CLL lymphoid tissues, and consists of Lyn activation, STAT3 phosphorylation, and Mcl-1 upregulation. Our results establish that MMP/receptor binding induces intracellular survival signals and highlight the role of (pro)MMP-9 in B-CLL pathogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
  • Humans
  • Integrin alpha4beta1 / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / genetics
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / metabolism*
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / pathology
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / chemistry
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / metabolism
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / physiology*
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / ultrastructure
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism
  • src-Family Kinases / physiology

Substances

  • Integrin alpha4beta1
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • lyn protein-tyrosine kinase
  • src-Family Kinases
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9