Conversion of cadherin isoforms in cultured human gastric carcinoma cells.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the expression of cadherin isoforms in cultured human gastric carcinoma cells and its regulation.


METHODS
The expressions of cell adhesion molecules (including E-cadherin, N-cadherin, alpha-catenin, beta-catenin) and cadherin transcription factors including snail, slug and twist were determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR), immunoblotting and immunofluorescence in SV40-immortalized human gastric cell line Ges-1 and human gastric cancer cell lines MGC-803, BGC-823 and SGC-7901.


RESULTS
All cell lines expressed N-cadherin, but not E-cadherin. N-cadherin immunofluorescence was detected at cell membranous adherents junctions where co-localization with immunofluorescent staining of inner surface adhesion proteins alpha- and beta-catenins was observed. The transformed Ges-1 and gastric cancer cell lines all expressed transcription factors (snail, slug and twist) which inhibited the expression of E-cadherin and triggered epithelial-mesenchymal transformation.


CONCLUSIONS
Cadherin isoforms can change from E-cadherin to N-cadherin in transformed human gastric cancer cells, which is associated with intracellular events of stomach carcinogenesis and high expression of corresponding transcription factors.
Wang
Bing-Jing
BJ
Beijing Institute for Cancer Research, Peking University, Beijing 100036, China.
Zhang
Zhi-Qian
ZQ
Ke
Yang
Y
D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers; D006801:Humans; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D015820:Cadherins; D017931:DNA Primers; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D014157:Transcription Factors