Integrin alpha1beta1 and alpha2beta1 are the key regulators of hepatocarcinoma cell invasion across the fibrotic matrix microenvironment.

As with many types of cancer, cell motility is an important factor in the progression and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). HCC is associated with significant fibrosis in the liver. The fibrotic microenvironment in the liver is characterized by an altered composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and an abundance of growth factors that are likely conducive to migration of HCC cells. The purpose of this study was to delineate promigratory stimuli within the fibrotic microenvironment and to identify specific targets for prevention of HCC cell migration. We used a modified Boyden chamber system that allowed distinction between chemotactic (indirect stimulation) and haptotactic (direct stimulation) migration of two distinct HCC cell lines across the ECM-coated membrane. Fibrotic microenvironment-associated growth factors, such as transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF), induced chemotactic and haptotactic migration of HepG2 and Chang cells. Neutralizing antibodies to individual growth factors significantly decreased chemotactic and haptotactic migration. Haptotactic stimulation, but not chemotactic stimulation of HCC cell lines with TGF-beta1, bFGF, and EGF, induced production of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2, a potential mediator of migration. Inhibition of MMPs significantly decreased haptotactic migration induced by individual growth factors but had an insignificant effect on chemotactic migration, suggesting an MMP-independent migration in this setting. Inhibition of cell-ECM interactions with blocking antibodies to alpha1 and alpha2 integrins were sufficient to inhibit both haptotactic and chemotactic migration induced by individual growth factors, strongly suggesting that targeting these integrins to abrogate pathogenic cell-ECM interactions might be a promising tool for inhibiting growth factor-induced invasion and metastasis of HCC.