(in Harousseau et al). Interaction of multiple myeloma (MM) cells and their bone marrow (BM) milieu. Binding of MM cells to BM stem cells (BMSCs) triggers adhesion- and cytokine-mediated MM cell growth, survival, drug resistance, and migration.
MM cell binding to BM stromal cells induces activation of p42/44 MAPK and NF-κB in BM stromal cells. Activation of NF-κB upregulates adhesion molecules on both MM cells and BM stromal cells. Cytokines secreted from MM cells induce interleukin (IL)-6 secretion (tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNFα], vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) and NF-κB activation (TNFα). Cytokines secreted from BM stromal cells activate major signaling pathways (p42/44 MAPK, JAK/STAT3, and/or PI3-K/Akt) and their downstream targets.