Involvement of p38α mitogen-activated protein kinase in lung metastasis of tumor cells

To study the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase ( p38) activity during the process of metastasis, p38 alpha(+/-) mice were subjected to an in vivo metastasis assay. The number of lung colonies of tumor cells intravenously injected in p38 alpha(-/-) mice was markedly decreased compared with that in wild-type (WT) mice. On the other hand, the time-dependent increase in tumor volume after subcutaneous tumor cells transplantation was comparable between WT and p38 alpha(+/-) mice. Platelets of p38 alpha(+/-) mice were poorly bound to tumor cells in vitro and in vivo compared with those of WT mice. E- and P-selectin mRNAs were markedly induced in the lung after intravenous injection of tumor cells. However, the induction of these selectin mRNAs in p38 alpha(+/-) mice was weaker than that in WT mice. Furthermore, the resting expression levels of E-selectin in lung endothelial cells and P-selectin in platelets of p38 alpha(+/-) mice were suppressed compared with those of WT mice. The number of tumor cells attached on lung endothelial cells of p38 alpha(+/-) mice was significantly reduced compared with that of WT mice. The transmigrating activity of tumor cells through lung endothelial cells of p38 alpha(+/-) mice was similar to that of WT mice. These results suggest that p38 alpha plays an important role in extravasation of tumor cells, possibly through regulating the formation of tumor-platelet aggregates and their interaction with the endothelium involved in a step of hematogenous metastasis.