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The process of tumor cell invasion of the basement membrane is proposed to consist of three steps: attachment, local proteolysis and migration. 12-(S)-HETE, a 12-lipoxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid, upregulates surface expression of integrin cytoadhesins and an autocrine motility factor receptor, suggesting that this metabolite may play an important regulatory function in tumor cell invasion. In the present study, we determined whether 12-(S)-HETE affects surface expression and/or release of cathepsin B, a cysteine protease that has been implicated in focal degradation of basement membrane. Secretion and distribution of cathepsin B was evaluated in two model systems for various stages of neoplastic progression: (i) murine B16 melanoma lines of low (B16-F1) and high (B16a) lung colonization potential, and (ii) immortalized and ras-transfected MCF-10 human breast epithelial cells that differ in their invasive capacities in vitro. In the B16a cells, 12-(S)-HETE induced release of native and latent cathepsin B activity and concomitantly reduced cell-associated cathepsin B immunoreactivity. In contrast, 12-(S)-HETE did not induce the release of cathepsin B from B16-F1 cells, suggesting that there may be an enhanced response to 12-(S)-HETE in more malignant cells. This was confirmed in the MCF-10 system, in which 12-(S)-HETE was able to induce the release of cathepsin B from the ras-transfected cells, but not from the immortal cells. A simultaneous reduction in staining for cathepsin B was observed in the ras-transfected cells, but not in their immortal counterparts. The release of cathepsin B may be mediated by PKC as pretreatment of B16a cells with the selective PKC inhibitor calphostin C, but not with the PKA inhibitor H8, prevented the stimulated release of cathepsin B. In B16a cells, the release of cathepsin B was accompanied by a translocation toward the cell periphery of vesicles staining for cathepsin B, resulting in focal areas of accumulation of cathepsin B. After 12-(S)-HETE stimulation of the ras-transfected MCF-10 cells, cathepsin B was distributed homogeneously on the apical surface. Thus, 12-(S)-HETE can upregulate the surface expression on tumor cells of proteins able to mediate each of the three steps of tumor cell invasion: adhesion, degradation, and migration.

The metastasis of malignant tumour cells depends on their rapid replication, and their ability to adhere to the matrix of a biological barrier such as basement membrane, to degrade the matrix, and to migrate through this more permeable barrier. Secreted enzymes, including the cysteine proteinases cathepsins B and L, are known to degrade basement membrane components. Using a barrier-free substratum we studied the possible role of cysteine proteinases in influencing the motility per se of metastatic cells. We found that stefins, the natural inhibitors of cysteine proteinases, markedly decreased the stimulated motility of both human melanoma cells and W256 carcinosarcoma cells at low concentrations (0.5 microM). A stefin also inhibited melanoma cell adherence, but to a lesser extent than motility. Additionally, synthetic inhibitors (E-64, diazomethyl ketones) of cysteine proteinases were found to depress stimulated motility of W256 cells. These results suggest that cysteine proteinases and their inhibitors may have a direct role in the development of a migratory response per se in tumour cells.

Expression, membrane association and secretion of both cathepsin B and cathepsin L have been associated with the malignant phenotype of murine B16 melanomas. Only native forms of the two enzymes were found in the lysosomal fractions, whereas both native and latent forms were found in the membrane fractions. Brief exposure to acid pH induced secretion of only native forms of both cathepsin B and cathepsin L and a concomitant reduction in membrane-associated activities. Thus, the pericellular acidification associated with malignant tumors may provide optimal conditions for proteolysis by the cysteine proteinases in terms of their enhanced stability and their induced release in native forms not requiring proteolytic activation.

The subcellular localization of cathepsin B activity (EC 3.4.22.1) in three murine melanomas of increasing metastatic potential (Cloudman less than B16-F1 less than B16 amelanotic) was determined. Cathepsin B activity was localized in the heavy mitochondrial fraction of normal murine liver but in the light mitochondrial fraction of the metastatic melanomas; the localization of three other lysosomal hydrolases did not shift. Further purification of the light mitochondrial fraction into L-1 (density = 1.045 g/ml) and L-2 (density = 1.07 g/ml) fractions was achieved on a 30% iso-osmotic Percoll gradient. The L-1 fraction of liver and melanomas contained Na+, K+-ATPase activity; the L-2 fraction of liver contained four lysosomal hydrolase (cathepsins B and H, N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, and beta-glucuronidase) and glucose-6-phosphatase activities. Ultrastructural examination revealed that the L-1 fraction consisted of membrane vesicles and the L-2 fraction of secondary lysosomes. In the B16 melanomas cathepsin B and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activities were found in both L-1 and L-2 fractions. Specific activities of the two enzymes in the plasma membrane (L-1) fractions increased in correspondence with metastatic potential. Cathepsin H and beta-glucuronidase activities were not localized in the plasma membrane fractions of the B16 melanomas. Localization of hydrolytic enzymes in the plasma membrane of metastatic tumor cells could result in focal dissolution of the extracellular matrix and thereby invasion and metastasis.

Subcellular distribution of cathepsin L, the major protein released by transformed or ras transfected fibroblasts, was examined in murine liver, murine B16 amelanotic melanoma and human A2058 melanoma after sequential differential and Percoll density gradient centrifugation. In both murine and human melanomas, cathepsin L activity was found to be enriched in plasma membrane fractions; cathepsin L in these fractions was in both native and acid activatable forms. Plasma membrane fractions from B16 melanoma subpopulations of "low" and "high" metastatic potential were assayed for activity of cathepsin L and of heat stable endogenous inhibitors. The relative specific activity of cathepsin L was 7-fold greater in the subpopulation of "high" metastatic potential, whereas cysteine proteinase inhibitory activity was 5-fold less. Since cathepsin L can degrade intact basement membrane, this membrane-associated cathepsin L may well contribute to metastatic spread of melanomas.