Enhanced E-cadherin expression in epidermal growth factor receptor expressing cells.
Expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) and the cell-cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin have individually been implicated in the biological activity of the most common human malignancies. There is also evidence for colocalization and for a correlation in the expression of these two proteins in human cells. To better define the relationship between these two gene products, we used immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis to compare E-cadherin expression in various well characterized cell lines lacking expression of EGFr or expressing wild type, functional mutant or non functioning mutant EGFr. Parental NR6 cells, which lack endogenous EGFr, and a derivitive cell line NR6M721, which expresses EGFr lacking tyrosine kinase activity, showed low levels of E-cadherin expression with or without stimulation with EGF. In contrast, the derivative NR6c'973 cell line, which expresses an active EGFr defective in EGF induced internalization and down-regulation and NR6 cells expressing wild type EGFr showed strong E-cadherin expression. These results suggest that EGFr activation may regulate or enhance E-cadherin expression.
Sorscher
S M
SM
Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093.
Green
M R
MR
Feramisco
J R
JR
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002460:Cell Line; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014162:Transfection
D015820:Cadherins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors