Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides directed against aspartyl (asparaginyl) β-hydroxylase suppress migration of cholangiocarcinoma cells

Background: Aspartyl (asparaginyl) β-hydroxylase (AAH) is an α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase that hydroxylates aspartate and asparagine residues in EGF-like domains of proteins. The consensus sequence for AAH β-hydroxylation occurs in signaling molecules such as Notch and Notch homologs, which have roles in cell migration. Aim: This study evaluated the potential role of AAH in cell migration using cholangiocarcinoma cell lines as models due to their tendency to widely infiltrate the liver. Methods: Five human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines established from human tumors were examined for AAH expression and motility. The effect of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide inhibition of AAH on cholangiocarcinoma cell migration was investigated. Results: Western blot analysis detected the 86 kDa AAH protein in all five cholangiocarcinoma cell lines, and higher levels of AAH in cell lines derived from moderately or poorly differentiated compared with well-differentiated tumors. Immunocytochemical staining and fluorescence activated cell sorting analysis revealed both surface and intracellular AAH immunoreactivity. Using the phagokinetic non-directional migration assay and a novel ATPLite luminescence-based directional migration assay, we correlated AAH expression with motility. Correspondingly, antisense and not sense or mutated antisense AAH oligodeoxynucleotides significantly inhibited AAH expression and motility in cholangiocarcinoma cells. Conclusions: AAH over-expression may contribute to the infiltrative growth pattern of cholangiocarcinoma cells by promoting motility.