Collaborative activities of macrophage-stimulating protein and transforming growth factor-beta1 in induction of epithelial to mesenchymal transition: roles of the RON receptor tyrosine kinase.
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process occurring during embryonic development and cancer progression. Using recepteur d'origine nantais (RON)-expressing epithelial cells as a model, we showed that RON activation causes spindle-shaped morphology with increased cell motilities. These activities resemble those observed in EMT induced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 or by Ras-Raf signaling. By immunofluorescent and Western blot analyses, we found that constitutive RON expression results in diminished expression of E-cadherin, redistribution of beta-catenin, reorganization of actin cytoskeleton, and increased expression of vimentin, a mesenchymal filament. RON expression is also essential for TGF-beta1-induced expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), a specialized mesenchymal marker. In the study of signaling pathways responsible for RON-mediated EMT, it was found that PD98059, a MAP kinase inhibitor, blocks the collaborative activities of RON and TGF-beta1 in induction of alpha-SMA expression and restores epithelial cells to their original morphology. Moreover, we showed that RON expression increases Smad2 gene promoter activities and protein expression, which significantly lowers TGF-beta1 threshold for EMT induction. These results suggest that persistent RON expression and activation cause the loss of epithelial phenotypes. These changes, collaborating with TGF-beta1 signaling, could play a critical role in epithelial transdifferentiation towards invasiveness and metastasis of certain cancers.
Laboratory of Chang-Jiang Scholar Endowment for Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Infectious Diseases and First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
Da
D
Wang
Qi
Q
Shen
Yi-Qing
YQ
Chen
Ming-Hai
MH
Wang
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D051176:beta Catenin
D000199:Actins; D015415:Biomarkers; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005419:Flavonoids; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C497782:SMAD2 protein, human; D051899:Smad2 Protein; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D051176:beta Catenin; C082332:macrophage stimulating protein; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; C080835:RON protein; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one