Stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α/CXCL12)-enhanced angiogenesis of human basal cell carcinoma cells involves ERK1/2–NF-κB/interleukin-6 pathway

Stromal cell-derived factor la (SDF-1α) (CXCL12) has been observed to enhance tumor angiogenesis. However, the comprehensive role of SDF-1α (CXCL12)-CXCR4 interaction, exerted during angiogenesis, has not been well understood. We have previously demonstrated that human basal cell carcinoma (BCC) tissues and a BCC cell line (BCC-1/KMC) had significant expression of CXCR4, whose level was higher in invasive than in the non-invasive BCC types. Here, we observed that human BCC tissues with high expression levels of CXCR4 had higher vascularity. Further, among the 71 BCCs diagnosed between the years 2004-2005, BCCs with high CXCR4 expression had concomitantly higher microvessel density, as compared with those with low CXCR4 expression (P < 0.001). We found that SDF-1α induced angiogenic activity in human BCC cells, both in vitro and in vivo. SDF-1α significantly upregulated several angiogenesis-associated genes such as interferon-alpha-inducible protein 27, interleukin (IL)-6, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-6, SOCS2 and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX)-2 in human BCC cells. Among them, IL-6 was the earliest and highest upregulated gene whose induction was observed within 6 h of the commencement of SDF-1α-CXCR4 interaction. The mechanisms behind the SDF-1α-induced time and dose-dependent upregulation of messenger RNA expression and protein secretion of IL-6 were investigated. The transcriptional regulation of IL-6 by SDF-1α was mediated by phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 and activation of the nuclear factor-KB complex. The identification of the angiogenic profiles induced through SDF-1α-CXCR4 interactions in human BCC cells may contribute further insights into the mechanisms involved in the angiogenic potential of SDF-1α (CXCL12).