Loss of the metastatic phenotype by a human epidermoid carcinoma cell line, HEp-3, is accompanied by increased expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2

Abstract

The human epidermoid carcinoma cell line HEp-3 gives rise to spontaneous metastases in nude mice and in the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay system. Cells passaged continuously on the CAM retain their ability to form metastases, while cells carried in vitro lose metastatic potential with time. A HEp-3 cell line derived from a highly metastatic CAM tumor was grown continuously in vitro for 16 weeks. At 2-week intervals the cells were tested on the CAM for metastatic ability and assayed for expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and the M(r) 92,000 and M(r) 72,000 gelatinase/type IV collagenases, enzymes the expression of which has previously been shown to correlate with tumor cell dissemination. Expression of proteins which modulate the degradative potential of these enzymes, plasminogen activator inhibitors 1 and 2 (PAI-1, PAI-2), uPA receptor, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteases 1 and 2 (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2), were also assayed. As previously reported the metastatic ability of these cells decreased with time in culture and was almost completely lost by 8 weeks in vitro. Secreted uPA activity remained essentially unchanged, even though uPA mRNA levels decreased with time. There was also a decrease in PAI-1 and PAI-2 mRNA. However, PAI-1 protein concentration in conditioned medium remained relatively constant, and only trace amounts of PAI-2 protein could be detected in cell lysates. Steady-state levels of uPA receptor were lowest at 2 weeks then increased sharply at 4 weeks and remained relatively constant thereafter. A decrease in secreted M(r) 92,000 and M(r) 72,000 gelatinase activities and their corresponding mRNAs was observed well after the loss of the metastatic phenotype. During the 16 weeks in culture TIMP-1 mRNA levels changed slightly, while TIMP-2 mRNA increased more than 2-fold. These data suggest that a metalloproteinase other than the gelatinase/type IV collagenases may be involved in HEp-3 metastasis.