Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Real-time Imaging of Leukotriene B4 Mediated Cell Migration and BLT1 Interactions with β-arrestin
13:45

Real-time Imaging of Leukotriene B4 Mediated Cell Migration and BLT1 Interactions with β-arrestin

Published on: December 23, 2010

Ras-induced invasion and metastasis are regulated by a leukotriene B4 receptor BLT2-linked pathway

E-Y Kim1, J-M Seo, K-J Cho

  • 1Inflammatory Signaling Laboratory, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Oncogene
|November 26, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Oncogenic Ras promotes cancer metastasis through a novel signaling pathway involving the BLT2 receptor, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and MMP-9. Inhibiting this pathway suppressed metastasis and reduced mortality in mice.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • Ras signaling pathways are crucial for cancer cell proliferation.
  • Their role in cancer invasion and metastasis is less understood.
  • Identifying novel pathways is key to understanding cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of BLT2 signaling in Ras-driven cancer metastasis.
  • To elucidate the mechanism linking Ras to invasion and metastasis.
  • To identify potential therapeutic targets for metastatic cancers.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated a BLT2-linked signaling cascade involving ROS generation via Nox1.
  • Examined NF-kappaB stimulation and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) upregulation.
  • Assessed the effect of BLT2 inhibition on Ras-evoked metastasis in mouse models.
  • Evaluated the impact of MMP-9 inhibition on BLT2-induced metastasis.

Main Results:

  • A novel BLT2 signaling cascade (ROS, Nox1, NF-kappaB, MMP-9) was identified as a mechanism for Ras-driven invasion and metastasis.
  • Inhibition of BLT2 signaling significantly suppressed Ras-evoked metastasis and reduced mortality in mice.
  • BLT2 expression alone induced metastatic lung nodules, which were attenuated by MMP-9 inhibition.

Conclusions:

  • The BLT2-linked cascade is a previously unrecognized driver of oncogenic Ras-induced metastasis.
  • BLT2 acts as a key downstream mediator of Ras signaling in metastasis.
  • Targeting the BLT2 pathway offers a potential strategy to combat cancer invasion and metastasis.

More Related Videos

The Establishment of a Lung Colonization Assay for Circulating Tumor Cell Visualization in Lung Tissues07:39

The Establishment of a Lung Colonization Assay for Circulating Tumor Cell Visualization in Lung Tissues

Published on: June 16, 2018

Lung Tumor Cell Recruitment Assay04:28

Lung Tumor Cell Recruitment Assay

Published on: February 26, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply01:24

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits.  Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Acute Inflammation II: Cellular Phase01:26

Acute Inflammation II: Cellular Phase

The cellular phase of acute inflammation is a tightly orchestrated sequence of events that recruits leukocytes, primarily neutrophils, to sites of tissue injury or infection. Following the initial vascular changes, this phase ensures effective immune cell migration, activation, and function at the affected site to eliminate pathogens and initiate tissue repair.Leukocyte Recruitment CascadeLeukocyte recruitment happens in four steps: margination, adhesion, transmigration, and chemotaxis. Reduced...
MAPK Signaling Cascades01:07

MAPK Signaling Cascades

Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...
Metastasis02:30

Metastasis

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs01:15

Receptor Downregulation in MVBs

Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that  lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR  stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive  EGFR activation may...