The CCL27-CCR10 axis contributes to promoting proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung squamous cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACT

Lung cancer is characterized by its high mortality and morbidity. A deep understanding of the molecular mechanisms of lung cancer tumorigenesis helps to develop novel lung cancer diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. However, the picture of the associated molecular landscape is not yet complete. As understood, chemokine-receptor interactions contribute much to lung cancer tumorigenesis, in which CCR10 also plays an important role. This study aimed to expand the knowledge of CCR10 in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) in the manner of molecular mechanism and biological functions. Using GEPIA database, the survival analysis between LUSC patients with high and low CCR10 expressions was performed, showing that CCR10 could be regarded as a risk factor for LUSC patients. Subsequently, CCR10 protein and mRNA expressions in LUSC were examined by qRT-PCR and western blot respectively. The results indicated that CCR10 was highly expressed in LUSC cells. The results of CCK-8, colony formation, and Transwell assays presented that CCL27, the ligand of CCR10, promoted proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of LUSC cells by activating CCR10. Also, the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was verified as the involved pathway by western blot. Overall, it could be concluded that the CCL27-CCR10 regulatory axis can activate the PI3K/AKT pathway fostering the malignant features of LUSC cells.