Muscarinic receptor agonists stimulate human colon cancer cell migration and invasion

Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2011 May;300(5):G749-60. doi: 10.1152/ajpgi.00306.2010. Epub 2011 Jan 27.

Abstract

Muscarinic receptors (CHRM) are overexpressed in colon cancer. To explore a role for muscarinic receptor signaling in colon cancer metastasis, we used human H508 and HT29 colon cancer cells that coexpress epidermal growth factor (ERBB) and CHRM3 receptors. In a wound closure model, following 8-h incubation of H508 cells with 100 μM ACh we observed a threefold increase in cell migration indistinguishable from the actions of epidermal growth factor (EGF). Atropine blocked the actions of ACh but not of EGF. In SNU-C4 colon cancer cells that express ERBB but not CHRM, EGF caused a threefold increase in migration; ACh had no effect. ACh-induced cell migration was attenuated by chemical inhibitors of ERBB1 activation, by anti-ERBB1 antibody, and by inhibitors of ERK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling. Consistent with matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP7)-mediated release of an ERBB1 ligand, heparin binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HBEGF), ACh-induced migration was inhibited by an MMP inhibitor and by anti-MMP7 and -HBEGF antibodies. ACh-induced cell migration was blocked by inhibiting RhoA and ROCK, key proteins that interact with the actin cytoskeleton. ACh-induced RhoA activation was attenuated by agents that inhibit ERBB1, ERK, and PI3K activation. Collectively, these findings indicate that ACh-induced cell migration is mediated by MMP7-mediated release of HBEGF, an ERBB ligand that activates ERBB1 and downstream ERK and PI3K signaling. In a cell invasion model, ACh-induced HT29 cell invasion was blocked by atropine. In concert with previous observations, these findings indicate that muscarinic receptor signaling plays a key role in colon cancer cell proliferation, survival, migration, and invasion.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholine / pharmacology
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / physiology
  • Genes, erbB-1 / genetics
  • Humans
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / metabolism
  • Muscarinic Agonists / pharmacology*
  • Myosins / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Stimulation, Chemical
  • rho-Associated Kinases / metabolism
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Actins
  • Muscarinic Agonists
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • rho-Associated Kinases
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 7
  • Myosins
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein
  • Acetylcholine