title: Rho family GTPases are activated during HGF-stimulated prostate cancer-cell scattering.
abstract: An important process in embryogenesis and cancer-cell metastasis is the conversion of epithelial cells to a migratory phenotype, a phenomenon known as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (E-MT). To achieve E-MT, cells dissociate from neighbouring cells and adopt a migratory morphology. This transition requires remodelling of their cell shape and substratum adhesions; activities that require extensive reorganisation of the actin cytoskeleton. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced scattering of Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells is a routinely used model of E-MT, in which actin cytoskeletal rearrangement is known to be dependent on Rho family GTPases. We have developed a novel model of HGF-induced E-MT using the human prostate cancer cell line, DU145. This model overcomes the limitation of using a canine cell line and facilitates the study of E-MT in human cancer. We demonstrate for the first time the scattering response of individual DU145 cells to HGF in real time and have characterised changes in actin cytoskeletal organisation and cell adhesions as these cells respond to HGF. HGF-induced scattering of DU145 cells is dependent on the activity of Rho family GTPases, and using this model, we are able to demonstrate for the first time that endogenous Cdc42 is activated downstream of HGF. Furthermore we have also shown that the response of DU145 cells to HGF is dependent on a phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase pathway.
authors.affiliation: Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London, United Kingdom. claire.wells@kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: J R W
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Masters
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002867:Chromones / Q000494:pharmacology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015820:Cadherins; D002867:Chromones; D009025:Morpholines; C085911:2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins