title: [Adhesion and mobility of embryonic and tumoral cells].
abstract: Regulation of a number of adhesion molecules during neural crest cell migration was studied. The neural crest, a transient embryonic neural epithelium structure, undergoes mesenchymal transformation (epithelial-mesenchymal transition). The cells then migrate, giving rise to a variety of elements including the peripheral nervous system and melanocytes. During migration, neural crest cells do not express functional cell Adhesion Molecules but interact specifically with cell-binding domains in fibronectin molecules. A rat bladder carcinoma cell line was used as an in vitro model to study conversion of epithelial cells to a migratory fibroblast-like state. Conversion can be induced by culture on collagen or exposure to acidic Fibroblast Growth Factor (aFGF). Furthermore, constitutive fibroblast-like transformation can be induced by transfection with cDNA encoding aFGF. Growth factor-producing clones exhibit increased invasive and metastatic properties as compared with non-FGF-producing control cells. This model may provide increased understanding of the role of the different adhesion molecules in processes involving cell remodeling, such as tumor spread and development of metastases.
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000502:physiology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 / Q000502:physiology; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000502:physiology; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D005353:Fibronectins; D016023:Integrins; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1
vernacular_title: Adhérence et mobilité des cellules embryonnaires et tumorales.