NFAT1 mediates placental growth factor-induced myelomonocytic cell recruitment via the induction of TNF-α

Recruitment of bone marrow-derived myelomonocytic cells plays a fundamental role in tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. Placental growth factor (PIGF) is a potent cytokine that can attract myelomonocytic cells to the tumor. However, the underlying mechanism remains obscure. In this study, we demonstrate that tumor-derived PIGF activates NFAT1 via vascular endothelial growth factor receptor I in both murine and human myelomonocytic cells. Activation of NFAT1 is crucial for PIGF-induced myelomonocytic cell recruitment as shown by the in vitro transwell migration assay, transendothelial migration assay, and PIGF-overexpressing tumor models in mice, respectively. TNF-alpha is upregulated by PIGF in myelomonocytic cells in an NFAT1-dependent manner, which in turn contributes to PIGF-induced myelomonocytic cell recruitment. Blockade of TNF-alpha expression by RNA interference or neutralization of secreted TNF-alpha with its Ab attenuates PIGF-induced myelomonocytic cell migration and transendothelial migration. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of NFAT1 RNA interference on PIGF function is rescued by exogenously added TNF-alpha. Taken together, we demonstrate that NFAT1 mediates PIGF-induced myelomonocytic cell recruitment via the induction of TNF-alpha. Our present studies discover a novel role of the NFAT1-TNF-alpha pathway in tumor inflammation, which may provide potential targets to diversify current cancer therapy. The Journal of Immunology, 2010, 184: 2593-2601.