P-selectin on activated platelets promotes hematogenous metastasis of primary lung cancer via P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1

AIM: To investigate the relationship between platelets/P-selectin on activated platelets and clinico-pathological features, hematogenous metastasis and prognosis of lung cancer, and to explore the effect of P-selectin and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) interaction on the hematogenous metastasis-related integrin β3 (ITGB3). METHODS: The expression of P-selectin on activated platelets was detected by flow cytometry, and its effects on lung cancer and the risk of hematogenous metastasis were analyzed. The expression of PSGL-1 in different types of lung cancer tissues and cell lines was determined by Western blot. By co-culturing platelets and lung cancer cells in vitro, the effects of up- and down-regulation of PSGL-1 on invasion and migration abilities of lung cancer cells were observed. RESULTS: The peripheral blood platelet counts and P-selectin expression on activated platelets in the patients with lung cancer were significantly increased (P<0.05). The P-selectin expression on activated platelets was significantly associated with hematogenous metastasis of lung cancer (r=0.256, P<0.05). The strongest expression of PSGL-1 was found in the lung adenocarcinoma samples, next in the lung squamous-cell carcinoma samples, and the weakest in small-cell lung cancer samples. P-selectin promoted transmembrane invasion of lung cancer cells. Inhibition of P-selectin and its ligand PSGL-1 reduced ITGB3 expression, invasion and migration of lung cancer cells. CONCLUSION: The P-selectin level on activated platelets is significantly associated with hematogenous metastasis of lung cancer, which is related to the binding of P-selectin and its ligand PSGL-1. Up-regulation of ITGB3 level after their binding might be one of the mechanisms of the remodeling of extracellular matrix to facilitate hematogenous metastasis of lung cancer.