ABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To determine how SDF-1 alpha/CXCR4 activates nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) and promotes oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) invasion.</p><p><b>METHODOLOGY</b>A lentivirus-based knockdown approach was utilized to deplete gene expression. NF-kappaB activation was evaluated by Western blot analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift (EMSA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We show that the activation of NF-kappaB by CXCR4 occurs through the Carma3/Bcl10/Malt1 (CBM) complex in OSCC. We found that loss of components of the CBM complex in HNSCC can inhibit SDF-1 alpha induced phosphorylation and degradation of IkappaBalpha, while TNF alpha induced IKK activation remains unchanged. Further, we identified a role for novel and atypical, but not classical, PKCs in activating IKK through CXCR4. Importantly, inhibition of the CBM complex leads to a significant decrease in SDF-1 alpha mediated invasion of OSCC.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The CBM complex plays a critical role in CXCR4-induced NF-kappaB activation in OSCC. Targeting molecular components of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway may provide an important therapeutic opportunity in controlling the progression and metastasis of OSCC mediated by SDF-1 alpha.</p>