Nm23-H1 gene as a molecular switch between the free-floating and adherent states of gastric cancer cells.
The contribution of the nm23-H1 gene to metastasis in malignant tumors, including gastric cancer, is controversial. In this study, we compared nm23-H1 levels in two cell subtypes with different morphologies (floating and adherent states), but that were derived from the same gastric cancer cell line, KATO-III. A real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that the number of nm23-H1 mRNA molecules in floating cells was significantly higher than that in adherent cells (P<0.0001). The average of the copies in floating cells was approximately 2.4-fold higher than that in adherent cells. Consistent with mRNA levels, intracellular levels of nm23-H1 protein were higher in floating cells than in adherent cells. There was no difference in cell cycle characteristics between the two subtypes. In conclusion, our present data indicate that expression of nm23-H1 by a tumor could be altered during the different steps in metastases, suggesting that nm23-H1 may act as a molecular switch between the free-floating and adherent states of cancer cells.
Iizuka
N
N
Department of Bioregulatory Function, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-kogushi, Ube, 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan. iizuka@po.cc.yamaguchi-u.ac.jp
Tangoku
A
A
Hazama
S
S
Yoshino
S
S
Mori
N
N
Oka
M
M
D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000235:genetics*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; C517938:NME1 protein, human; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins