Cathelicidin LL-37 promotes EMT, migration and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and mouse model

The effect of cathelicidin hCAP18/LL-37 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis remains unclear. Here, we confirmed that LL-37 expression enhanced endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration and invasion in HCC cells. And the HER2/EGFR-MAPK/ERK signal participated in the process above. More frequent lung metastases were observed in an LL-37-overexpressing hematogenous metastasis model. Interestingly, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) together with si-LL-37 significantly enhanced 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced inhibition of migration and invasion in PLC/PRF-5 cells, and also enhanced reversion of the EMT process. Therefore, LL-37 is involved in HCC metastases, and may act as an important factor to attenuate the inhibitory activity of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) on HCC metastasis. Targeting hCAP18/LL-37 may offer a potential strategy to improve the anticancer activity of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) in HCC therapy.