Giannelli G, Bergamini C, Fransvea E, Sgarra C, Antonaci S. Laminin-5 with transforming growth factor-beta1 induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Gastroenterology 2005;
129:1375-83. [PMID:
16285938 DOI:
10.1053/j.gastro.2005.09.055]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 215] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2005] [Accepted: 08/31/2005] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS
How hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells acquire the ability to invade surrounding tissue is unknown, but epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) likely plays a role. We investigate how transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and extracellular matrix protein Laminin-5 (Ln-5) induce EMT and cancer invasion.
METHODS
Snail, Slug, E-cadherin, beta-catenin and Ln-5 were investigated on HCC tissues and on HCC cell lines.
RESULTS
We show that in HCC but not in peritumoral tissue of the same HCC patients, Ln-5, Snail, and Slug are up-regulated, E-cadherin is down-regulated and beta-catenin is translocated into the nuclei. In vitro, HCC "invasive" cells, partially EMT-transformed, show low levels of E-cadherin. In presence of Ln-5, Snail, and Slug are up-regulated, E-cadherin is down-regulated, beta-catenin is translocated into the nuclei, and cells undergo a dramatic morphological change, becoming scattered and undergoing a complete EMT. This effect is reversed by anti-alpha3 but not by anti-alpha6 integrin blocking antibody. HCC "noninvasive" cells are not EMT-transformed, and have constitutively high levels of E-cadherin. In presence of Ln-5, cells undergo partial EMT, Snail, and Slug are up-regulated, E-cadherin is down-regulated but cells do not scatter. However, the presence of both Ln-5 and TGF-beta1 completes the EMT process, beta-catenin is translocated into the nuclei, cells scatter and become invasive, recalling the "invasive" cells. In this case, too, the effect is reversed by anti-alpha3 integrin blocking antibody.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that Ln-5 and TGF-beta1 cooperatively induce EMT in HCC, suggesting the microenvironment as a potential target for new biological therapies.
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