Environmental modulation of alpha(v), alpha(2) and beta(1) integrin subunit expression in human oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas.
Integrins are cell adhesion molecules pivotal in regulating normal cell behaviour. Ectopic expression of integrins, characteristic of transformed cells, is instrumental in differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, matrix degradation and migration. Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has a propensity to metastasize and hence an extremely poor prognosis. It is shown here that oesophageal SCCs express alpha(v)strongly and that normal oesophageal tissue does not express alpha(v). This makes alpha(v)a significant indicator of the transformed phenotype. alpha(2)and beta(1)integrin subunits are down-regulated in oesophageal SCCs compared to normal oesophagus. Dominance of the alpha(2)beta(1)heterodimer is symptomatic of potential loss of other beta(1)binding integrins in oesophageal SCCs. These results suggest a decrease in rigid cell adhesion possibly increasing migratory potential, whilst simultaneously permitting the adhesion and migration of SCC cells on a large repertoire of ligands due to de novo alpha(v)expression.
Department of Molecular Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, WITS 2050, South Africa.
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Miller
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Veale
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D039421:Integrin alpha2; D039564:Integrin alphaV; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010641:Phenotype; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D015703:Antigens, CD; D039421:Integrin alpha2; D039564:Integrin alphaV; D019012:Integrin beta1; D008024:Ligands