title: Coexpression of CD44 variant (v10/ex14) and CD44S in human mammary epithelial cells promotes tumorigenesis.
abstract: CD44 is the major hyaluronan cell surface receptor and functions as an adhesion molecule in many different cell types, including human breast epithelial cells. The coexpression of certain CD44 variants (CD44v), such as CD44v (v10/ex14), with CD44s (standard form) appears to be closely associated with human breast tumor metastasis. In this study we have established a stable transfection of CD44v (v10/ex14) cDNA into nontumorigenic human breast epithelial cells (HBL100) which contain endogenous CD44s. Our results indicate that coexpression of both CD44v (v10/ex14) and CD44s alters the following important biological properties of these cells: 1) there is a significant reduction in hyaluronic acid (HA)-mediated cell adhesion; 2) there is an increased migration capability in collagen-matrix gel; and 3) these cells constitutively produce certain angiogenic factors and effectively promote tumorigenesis in athymic nude mice. These findings suggest that coexpression of CD44v (v10/ex14) and CD44s may trigger the onset of cell transformation required for breast cancer development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Miami, Florida 33101, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Bourguignon
mesh_terms: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D001940:Breast / Q000166:cytology*; D015197:Carcinogenicity Tests; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007536:Isomerism; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid