title: Tissue transglutaminase was up-regulated by EGF-retinoid interplay in epithelial carcinoma cells.
abstract: Retinoids have been shown the most powerful inducers of transglutaminase activity, a well known marker of differentiation. In this work, we tested the effects of all-trans retinoic acid and EGF, used alone or in combination, on transglutaminase activity in a squamous, epithelial carcinoma cell line, HEp-2. We demonstrated that nanomolar EGF further enhances transglutaminase activity previously induced by all-trans retinoic acid. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed functional changes in transglutaminase activity localisation, at first restricted to the outermost region of cytosol, then diffused both in the membrane region and extracellular space. RT-PCR showed the presence of mRNA transcripts of different transglutaminases (1, 2, 3). Transglutaminase 2 expression was increased by either all-trans retinoic acid or EGF, and further up-regulated by the simultaneous addition of both substances. These effects were confirmed by Western blotting with transglutaminase 2 specific antibody. The results obtained by combined use of retinoic acid and EGF suggest that transglutaminase activity and expression are differently regulated, and that EGF-signalling can be involved in differentiation of epithelial carcinoma cells induced by retinoids.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biochemical, Physiological and Nutritional Sciences, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, Policlinico Universitario, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caccamo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Currò
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cannavò
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ientile
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D014212:Tretinoin; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D011503:Transglutaminases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins