Knock out of the BASIGIN/CD147 chaperone of lactate/H+ symporters disproves its pro-tumour actionviaextracellular matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) induction

// Ibtissam Marchiq 1 , Jean Albrengues 2 , Sara Granja 3,4 , Cédric Gaggioli 2 , Jacques Pouysségur 1,5 and Marie-Pierre Simon 1 1 INSERM, CNRS, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice (IRCAN), University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France 2 INSERM, CNRS, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice (IRCAN), University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Medical School, Nice, France 3 Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, Braga, Portugal 4 ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/ Guimarães, Portugal 5 Centre Scientifique de Monaco (CSM), Quai Antoine Ier MC, France Correspondence to: Jacques Pouyssegur, email: // Marie-Pierre Simon, email: // Keywords : cancer biology, membrane transport, MCT, lactic acid, glycolysis Received : April 14, 2015 Accepted : April 30, 2015 Published : May 29, 2015 Abstract BASIGIN/CD147/EMMPRIN is a multifunctional transmembrane glycoprotein strongly expressed in tumours. BASIGIN controls tumour metabolism, particularly glycolysis by facilitating lactic acid export through the two monocarboxylate transporters MCT1 and hypoxia-inducible MCT4. However, before being recognized as a co-carrier of MCTs, BASIGIN was described as an inducer of extracellular matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). Early on, a model emerged in which, tumour cells use the extracellular domain of BASIGIN to recognize and stimulate neighbouring fibroblasts to produce MMPs. However, this model has remained hypothetical since a direct link between BASIGIN and MMPs production has not yet been clearly established. To validate the BASIGIN/MMP hypothesis, we developed BASIGIN knockouts in three human tumour cell lines derived from glioma, colon, and lung adenocarcinoma. By using co-culture experiments of either human or mouse fibroblasts and tumour cell lines we showed, contrary to what has been abundantly published, that the disruption of BASIGIN in tumour cells and in MEFs has no action on the production of MMPs. Our findings do not support the notion that the pro-tumoural action of BASIGIN is mediated via induction of MMPs. Therefore, we propose that to date, the strongest pro-tumoural action of BASIGIN is mediated through the control of fermentative glycolysis.