Humans ; Ligands ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; physiopathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; physiopathology ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Receptors, CCR7 ; metabolism

Metastasis is the leading cause of mortality for cancer patients, and lymphatic metastasis is one of the main ways of tumor metastasis. The role of CCL21 and its receptor CCR7 in lymphatic metastasis has been increasingly concerned in recent years. CCR7 is mainly expressed by both dendritic cells and T cells for immune responses. CCL21, the chemokine ligand for CCR7, secreted from lymphatic endothelial cells binds CCR7 and recruits immune cells toward lymphatic vessels and lymphatic nodes. CCR7 expressed tumor cells can also metastasize to lymphatic system by the similar way as immune cells. Targeting CCL21/CCR7 axis to inhibit lymphatic metastasis but remain potent anti-tumor immune response has increasingly become a spot light of tumor immunotherapy. In this review, we summarize the role of CCL21/CCR7 axis in lymphatic metastasis, as well as preclinical trials and clinical trials in targeting CCL21/CCR7 axis for tumor metastasis therapy, hoping to accelerate the progress on tumor metastasis therapy by targeting CCL21/CCR7 axis.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Chemokine CCL21 ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasms/therapy* ; Receptors, CCR7/genetics*

OBJECTIVETo detect the expressions of CCR5 and CCR7 on dendritic cells (DCs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in different phases of disease activity, and explore the relationship between the disease activity and the expression of chemokine receptors.

METHODSTwenty-eight patients with low, moderate and high disease activity and 10 normal control subjects were enrolled in this study. Peripheral blood was obtained from the subjects and the DCs were isolated. The expression of CCR5 and CCR7 on DCs were detected by flow cytometry, and the serum levels of rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP) and anti-CCP antibody (ACPA) were assessed. The correlation of the expressions of CCR5 and CCR7 to serum RF, CRP, and ACPA levels of the RA patients were analyzed.

RESULTSCompared to the normal control group, RA patients showed enhanced expressions of CCR5 and CCR7 on the DCs. A linear correlation was noted between CCR5 and CCR7 expressions on the DCs and the serum levels of RF and CRP, but not ACPA, in the RA patients.

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of CCR5 and CCR7 on the DCs may correlate to the disease activity of RA, and may serve as valuable indices in monitoring the disease activity and the efficacy of the treatment.

Adult ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; immunology ; Dendritic Cells ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, CCR5 ; metabolism ; Receptors, CCR7 ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDThe ability of pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic surgery to promote proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer has become a focus of research in the field of minimally invasive surgery. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of CO2 pneumoperitoneum under different pressures and exposed times on the expression of chemokine receptors in colorectal carcinoma cells.

METHODSWe constructed an in vitro pneumoperitoneum model. SW480 colon carcinoma cells were exposed to CO2 pneumoperitoneum under different pressures (6, 9, 12, and 15 mmHg) for 1, 2, and 4 hours. These cells were then cultivated under the same conditions as normal SW480 colon carcinoma cells without CO2 pneumoperitoneum (control group), treated at 37°C, and 5% CO2. The expression of the chemokine receptors CXC receptor 4 (CXCR4) and chemokine C receptor 7 (CCR7) was detected by immunocytochemistry and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction after being cultivated for 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours.

RESULTSImmunocytochemistry showed that CXCR4 expression in SW480 cells was significantly decreased in the 6, 9, 12, and 15 mmHg CO2 pneumoperitoneum-treated groups for the same exposure times compared with controls (P < 0.05). CCR7 expression in SW480 cells was significantly decreased in the 12 and 15 mmHg CO2 pneumoperitoneum-treated groups compared with controls (P < 0.05). CXCR4 and CCR7 expression increased up to the level of the control group after 24 and 48 hours (P > 0.05). If the CO2 pneumoperitoneum pressure increased, CXCR4 and CCR7 expression decreased at all exposure times. If the CO2 pneumoperitoneum exposure time prolonged, there were no significant differences in CXCR4 and CCR7 expression under the same pressure. Under all exposure times, CXCR4 and CCR7 mRNA expression was significantly decreased in the 6, 9, 12, and 15 mmHg CO2 pneumoperitoneum-treated groups (P < 0.05) compared with controls, and it increased up to the level of controls after being cultivated for 48 hours (P > 0.05). If the CO2 pneumoperitoneum pressure increased (with all exposure times) and exposure time prolonged (under the same pressure), there were no significant differences in CXCR4 and CCR7 expression.

CONCLUSIONSCXCR4 and CCR7 expression is temporarily affected after continuous CO2 pneumoperitoneum treatment. The high pressure of CO2 pneumoperitoneum plays an important role in suppressing the expression of these chemokine receptors. Different lengths of time of exposure to a CO2 pneumoperitoneum-like environment do not change CXCR4 and CCR7 expression.

Carbon Dioxide ; adverse effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Humans ; Receptors, CCR7 ; metabolism ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; metabolism ; Retropneumoperitoneum ; complications ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the influence of infection of murine chemokine receptor-7 recombinant lentivirus on the immunogenicity and migration of dendritic cell strain DC 2.4 cells.

METHODSDC 2.4 cells were routinely cultured. Lentiviruses carrying GFP and those with up-regulated CCR7 were constructed. DC 2.4 cells were divided into DC 2.4 group (without any treatment), GFP-DC 2.4 group (infected with GFP-carrying lentivirus), and CCR7-DC 2.4 group (infected with CCR7-carrying lentivirus labeled by GFP) according to the random number table. The expressions of surface molecules MHCII, CD80, CD86, and CCR7 were detected by flow cytometry, Western blotting, and confocal laser scanning microscope. The migration of cells was detected by chemotaxis assay in vitro. The immunogenicity of cells was detected with mixed lymphocyte reaction. LPS-DC 2.4 group was set up as positive control. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and t test.

RESULTSLentiviruses carrying stably-expressing CCR7 were constructed, and the transfection rate of which into DC 2.4 cells was 87.4%. There was no statistically significant difference among DC 2.4, GFP-DC 2.4, and CCR7-DC 2.4 groups in the expressions of MHC II, CD80, and CD86 as showed by flow cytometry (with F values from 0.17 to 1.19, P values all above 0.05). The protein expression of CCR7 of cells in CCR7-DC 2.4 group (45.1 ± 2.1) was obviously higher than that in DC 2.4 and GFP-DC 2.4 groups (25.3 ± 1.4, 28.6 ± 0.9, F = 162.90, P < 0.01), while the difference of which between DC 2.4 group and GFP-DC 2.4 group was not statistically significant (t = 2.20,P > 0.05). The fluorescence intensity of CCR7 in CCR7-DC 2.4 group was obviously increased compared with that of DC 2.4 group. The chemotaxis migration rate of cells in CCR7-DC 2.4 group with the influence of CCL19 was (41.0 ± 2.0)%, which was significantly higher than that of DC 2.4 and GFP-DC 2.4 groups [(6.0 ± 0.5)%, (6.8 ± 0.3)%, F = 84.21, P < 0.01]. There was no statistically significant difference between DC 2.4 group and GFP-DC 2.4 group in the migration rate (t = 0.45, P > 0.05). The absorbance values in DC 2.4, GFP-DC 2.4, CCR7-DC 2.4, and LPS-DC 2.4 groups were respectively 1.6 ± 0.4, 1.9 ± 0.4, 1.7 ± 0.4, 3.8 ± 0.4, and the differences among the former three groups were not obvious (F = 1.56, P > 0.05). The absorbance value in LPS-DC 2.4 group was obviously higher than that of the other three groups (with t values from 1.53 to 1.82, P values all below 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSDC 2.4 cells infected with efficiently CCR7-expressing lentivirus showed high chemotaxis to CCL19, but without obvious change in immunogenicity.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Cell Movement ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Mice ; Receptors, CCR7 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the expression of CCR7 and Tim-3 in childhood patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and their predictive value for prognosis. METHODS: Eighty-six newly diagnosed ALL childhood patients from January 2007 to January 2017 treated in our hospital were selected. The expression level of CCR7 and Tim-3 in bone marrow isolated cells of ALL patients were detected by flow cytometry, all the patients were divided into the recurrence group and non-recurrence group according to the follow-up results, the differences in the expressions of CCR7, Tim-3 between the two groups were compared. The correlation between the expression of CCR7 , Tim-3 and the clinicopathologic features of ALL patients were analyzed, the predictive value of CCR7 and Tim-3 for the prognosis of newly ALL patients were evaluated by ROC curve, and the relationship between serum CCR7, Tim-3 and prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: The expression levels of CCR7 and Tim-3 in recurrence group were significantly higher than those in non-recurrence group(P<0.05). The critical value of CCR7 for diagnosis of recurrence was 45.97%, the sensitivity was 66.7%, the specificity was the 84.5% and the area under ROC curve (AUC) was 0.798 (95CI 0.777-0.939). The critical value of Tim-3 for diagnosis of recurrence was 53.54%, the sensitivity was 73.3%, the specificity was the 80.3% and the AUC was 0.806 (95CI 0.792-0.947). The AUC of the combined detection of CCR7 and Tim-3 was 0.895 (95CI 0.914-0.996), sensitivity 86.6%, specificity 78.9% (P<0.05); There was no significant correlation between CCR7, Tim-3 expression and age, sex, hemoglobin concentration, number of white blood cells, bone marrow blasts, platelets, central nervous system invasion, fusion gene (P>0.05). The exogenous infiltration rate of patients with high expression of CCR7 and Tim-3 was significantly higher than those in low expression group (P<005). The high expression rate 76.9% of Tim-3 in patients with T-ALL was significantly higher than that of B-ALL patients with Tim-3 high expression rate 45.2% (P<0.05). The median OS of patients with CCR7 level ≥45.97% and <45.97% were 9.3 months and 13.6 months respectively(P=0.004), and the Tim-3≥53.54% and Tim-3<53.54% were 9.1 months and 13.6 months respectively(P=0.001). The results of Cox's multi-factor regression analysis showed that CCR7 level(HR=1.024, 95 CI 1.001-1.049) and Tim-3 level (HR=1.879, 95 CI 1.183- 2.985) were the independent risk factors that affect the OS in ALL patients(P<0.05). CONCLUSION The expression of CCR7 and Tim-3 in bone marrow isolated cells of ALL patients shows good predictive value for prognosis, and the combination of CCR7 and Tim-3 can improve the sensitivity of the detection, the higher expression of CCR7 and Tim-3 can be used as potential indexes in prognosis evaluate.
Bone Marrow ; Child ; Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2 ; Humans ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Prognosis ; Receptors, CCR7

The protein encoded by CC chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) is a member of the G protein-coupled receptor family. This receptor was identified as a gene induced by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and is thought to be a mediator of EBV effects on B lymphocytes. This receptor is expressed in various lymphoid tissues and activates B and T lymphocytes. It has been shown to control the migration of memory T cells to inflamed tissues, as well as stimulate dendritic cell maturation. To map the CCR7 gene in chicken chromosome, a 6 000 rads chicken-hamster radiation hybrid panel (ChickRH6) was used. PCR of samples from ChickRH6 revealed that the location of CCR7 gene is linked to the maker SEQ0347 (6 cR away) with LOD score of 16.6 and that the marker SEQ0347 is located on chromosome 27 at 27 cR of RH (radiation hydrid) map. We compared the corresponding human mRNA sequence with the predicted coding sequence of chicken CCR7 gene, and found that the assembled contig shared a high percentage of similarity with that of the human gene.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; Chickens ; genetics ; Chromosomes ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Radiation Hybrid Mapping ; methods ; Receptors, CCR7 ; Receptors, Chemokine ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; methods ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of chemokine receptor CCR7 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its possible role in directional neck lymph node metastasis.

METHODSThe expression of chemokine receptor CCR7 was examined in 85 cases of OSCC, normal oral mucosa, and Tca8113 and adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC-M) cell lines using immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and Western blotting. The relationship between the expression and clinicopathological factors of OSCC was analyzed. After treatment with or without CCR7 antibody, in vitro adhesion assay was performed to compare the adhesion of Tca8113 and ACC-M cells to lymph nodes.

RESULTSCCR7 was expressed in 66% (56/85) of OSCC cases, and there was a significant difference in CCR7 expression between metastasis group (31/39, 79%) and non-metastasis group (25/46, 54%). RT-PCR and Western blotting also confirmed the presence of positive CCR7 expression in OSCC. Tca8113 cells expressing CCR7 showed stronger ability to adhere to lymph nodes as compared to CCR7-negative ACC-M cells and could be actively inhibited by CCR7 antibody.

CONCLUSIONSCCR7 may play an important role in the development and lymph node metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Receptors, CCR7 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of CC-chemokine Receptor 7 (CCR7) in adult acute leukemia patients, and to analyze the relationship of CCR7 expression with the clinical characteristics of patients.

METHODSThe expression of CCR7 in bone marrow samples from adult acute leukemia patients were detected by flow cytometry (FCM), the relationship of CCR7 expression with the clinical characteristics of patients such as sex, age, WBC count, blast cell ratio, CD56 expression, molecular biology, cell genetics, risk stratification, extramedullary infiltration was analyzed.

RESULTSThe expression rate of CCR7 in adult ALL and AML patients was 36.8% and 9.6%, respectively, and the expression level of CCR7 in ALL patients was higher than that in AML patients (P < 0.05). The extramedullary infiltration rate was 100% and 41.7 % for CCR7 positive and negative groups of ALL, respectively (P < 0.05). While the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) in extramedullary infiltration group of ALL was higher than that in none-extramedullary infiltration group of ALL (50.00 ± 10.42 vs 18.14 ± 1.39), respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCCR7 is higher expressed in adult acute leukemia cells, moreover its expression rate in ALL is higher than that in AML, and the expression of CCR7 is related with extramedullary infiltration in ALL.

Adult ; Bone Marrow ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; metabolism ; Leukocyte Count ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, CCR7 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of chemokine receptor 7 (CCR-7) small interfering RNA (siRNA) on proliferation and invasion of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN).

METHODSCCR-7 siRNA was co-transfected into SCCHN cell line PCI-4B using Lipofectamine 2000. CCR-7 protein level was detected by western blotting. SCCHN cell proliferation was detected by MTT, and the change of actin cytoskeleton observed by confocal laser scanning microscope. Transwell assays were used to determine chemotaxis and invasion of SCCHN cells. The activity and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) were detected by TransAM NF-kappa B p65 kit and fluorescence microscope respectively.

RESULTSAfter CCR-7 siRNA transfection, the protein level of CCR-7 was significantly decreased. The changes induced by CCL-19, including increased proliferation rate, polarized actin polymerization, increased chemotaxis rate and invasion rate, were all abolished by CCR-7 siRNA transfection. CCR-7 siRNA also diminished CCL-19-induced NF-kappaB activation and nuclear translocation.

CONCLUSIONSCCR-7 siRNA could inhibit expression of CCR-7 and diminish the increased proliferation and invasion of SCCHN induced by CCL-19 in vitro. CCR-7 siRNA may provide a potential treatment strategy for SCCHN.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Receptors, CCR7 ; genetics ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism