CCL21 modulates the migration of NSCL cancer by changing the concentration of intracellular Ca2+

Recurrence and metastasis are the major factors associated with the poorprognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It has been shown that multiplechemokines and their receptors are related to the progression and metastasis ofNSCLC. The aim of this study was to conduct an investigation into whether CCL21and its receptor, CCR7, play a role in NSCLC invasion and metastasis. We usedWestern blotting, immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry to detect CCR7 proteinexpression in four NSCLC cell lines EKVX, HOP-62, NCI-H23 and Slu-01; and we conducteda cell migration experiment to observe the pseudopodia formation and mobilityof the lung cancer cells. The concentration of intracellular calcium was measuredby fluorescence microscopy. CCR7 protein was positively expressed in the fourNSCLC cell lines EKVX, HOP-62, NCI-H23 and Slu-01. Following CCL21 stimulation,obvious pseudopodia formation of lung cancer cells was observed. The cell migrationexperiment showed that following incubation with CCL21, the number of EKVX cellswhich passed through the polycarbonate micro-porous filter membranes also increasedto an obvious extent. After CCL21 incubation, the intracellular Ca2+ level ofthe EKVX cells increased to an obvious extent. Chemokine CCL21 facilitates themigration of lung cancer by changing the concentration of intracellular Ca2+.The CCL21-CCR7 axis may play an important role in NSCLC invasion and metastasis.It may also be a potential target for NSCLC therapy or for prevention of the recurrenceand metastasis of NSCLC.