Abstract 1527: CD44v9 involving in multiple myeloma cells adhesion to bone marrow stromal cell promotes bone erosion by augmenting the activation of HGF-receptor/cMet

Abstract

Abstract The main aim of our study is to determine the significance of the stromal microenvironment in the malignant behavior of multiple myeloma cells. The stroma-derived growth factors/cytokines and hyaluronan act in autocrine/paracrine ways with their receptors, including receptor-tyrosine kinases and CD44 variants (CD44v), to potentiate and support multiple myeloma cell survival. In this study, we found that CD44s and CD44 variants were differentially expressed between fraction of CD138+ fraction and CD138- fraction. Expression levels of CD44v6, CD44v9, and CD44v10, respectively, correlated with bone erosion (p=0.029, p=0.013, p=0.032), suggesting that CD44 variant molecules are involved in multiple myeloma progression. Binding studies using CD44 isoform specific reagents showed that CD44v6 and CD44v9 were involved in binding to bone marrow stromal cells, but not to in vitro synthesized ECM. In 3D culture, CD44v6 and CD44v9-mediated plasma cell binding resulted in a significant induction of HGF secretion by bone marrow stromal cells. CD44v6 and CD44v9-mediated plasma cell binding significantly induces PI3K/Akt via activation the Src-kinase Lyn. In bone marrow serum of MM patients, the expression levels of IL-6, OPN, and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), respectively, statistically correlated with bone erosion of MM patients (p=0.021, p=0.001, p=0.036). HGF derived from bone marrow stromal cells with multiple myeloma cells stimulates CD44 signaling via activation of HGF-receptor/cMet. Specific CD44 shRNA suppresses HGF-mediated CD44 signaling. Taken together, the role of CD44 variants in adhesion induced HGF- secretion may explain the previously observed correlation between CD44 variants expression and adverse prognosis in multiple myeloma. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1527. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1527