The cancer/testis antigen CAGE induces MMP-2 through the activation of NF-κB and AP-1

Cancer-associated antigen (CAGE) induces the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) by activating Akt, which in turn inter-acts with inhibitory kappa kinase beta (I kappa K beta) to activate nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B). Akt and p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) are necessary for CAGE-mediated induction of the AP-1 subunit JunB, whereas extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) is necessary for the induction of fos-related antigen-1 (Fra-1). Induction of MMP-2 by CAGE requires activator of protein-1 (AP-1) to be bound. Specific binding of JunB to MMP-2 promoter sequences was shown by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis. [BMB reports 2009; 42(11): 758-763]