Association of fibroblastoid features with the invasive phenotype in human bronchial cancer cell lines.
The acquisition of a metastatic phenotype by epithelial cells implicates a series of changes altering their differentiation, their overall behavior and morphology. In the present study, we have examined the relationships between the cellular morphology, E-cadherin expression, matrix metalloproteinases expression and in vitro invasive properties in two human bronchial immortalized cell lines. The (16HBE14o-) cell line which did not show any invasive abilities in the Boyden chamber assay displayed a typical epithelial morphology in monolayer, expressed high levels of E-cadherin and synthesized neither MMP-2 and MT1-MMP nor vimentin. In contrast, the BZR cell line which was highly invasive displayed a more elongated phenotype in monolayer, did not produce E-cadherin but expressed vimentin, MMP-2 and MT1-MMP. Our data therefore suggest that the metastatic progression of broncho-pulmonary cancer cells results in a cellular dedifferentiation and the gain of some mesenchymal attributes (loss of E-cadherin and expression of vimentin) associated with enhanced degradative properties (expression of metalloproteinases).
Polette
M
M
INSERM, U314, Laboratoire Pol Bouin, Reims, France.
Gilles
C
C
de Bentzmann
S
S
Gruenert
D
D
Tournier
J M
JM
Birembaut
P
P
D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D053504:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
D015820:Cadherins; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D014746:Vimentin; D003208:Concanavalin A; D018093:Gelatinases; D053504:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2