Neutrophil-derived serine proteinases enhance membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase-dependent tumor cell invasion

Background. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 degrades a variety of basement membrane components and is essential for tumor invasion. We have previously reported that membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) cooperates with neutrophil-derived serine proteinases (NDPs; elastase, cathepsin G, protease-3) to activate matrix metalloproteinase-2. We therefore hypothesized that NDPs enhance tumor-cell invasion. Methods. Clones of human HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells transfected with MT1-MMP sense (HT-SE) or antisense CDNA (HT-AS) were used. These cells express either high (HT-SE) or extremely low levels (HT-AS) of MT1-MMP relative to nontransfected HT1080 cells (HT-WT). The cells were incubated in the presence or absence of purified NDP, with or without α₁-antitrypsin or the MMP inhibitor batimastat. Cell invasion was measured with the use of Boyden chambers with polycarbonate membranes coated with a reconstituted extracellular matrix. Results. Under control conditions HT-WT and HT-SE cells were 4-fold more invasive than HT-AS cells. The addition of NDP increased HT-WT and HT-SE cell invasion 60% to 100% but had no effect on HT-AS cells, α₁-antitrypsin or batimastat did not decrease the baseline invasiveness of HT-WT and HT-SE cells; however, they abrogated the stimulatory effect of NDP. Conclusions. HT1080 cell invasion depends on MT1- MMP expression. MT1-MMP overexpression does not increase invasiveness by itself NDPs increase invasion by MT1-MMP expressing cells by activating matrix metalloproteinase-2.