title: Small Rho GTPases are important for acinus formation in a human salivary gland cell line.
abstract: Rho GTPases participate in a wide variety of signal transduction pathways regulating the actin cytoskeleton, gene expression, cellular migration and proliferation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of Rho GTPases in signal transduction pathways during acinus formation in a human salivary gland (HSG) cell line initiated by extracellular matrix (ECM; Matrigel) alone or in combination with epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). Immunohistochemical and Western blotting analyses showed that HSG cells contained RhoA, RhoB, Rac1 and Cdc42 proteins. All growth factors enhanced the effects of ECM on acinus formation, in a pathway dependent on PI3-kinase and Rho GTPases. The role of ROCK, a major RhoA effector, seemed limited to cortical actin polymerization. LPA stimulated cell migration and acinus formation in a PI3-kinase-independent pathway. The results suggest that Rho proteins are important for epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during salivary gland development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 1524, São Paulo, SP CEP 05508-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Virgínia O
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Crema
authors.forename: Dânia E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Hamassaki
authors.forename: Marinilce F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002460:Cell Line; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008246:Lysophospholipids / Q000494:pharmacology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010590:Phalloidine / Q000378:metabolism; D012235:Rhodamines; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000166:cytology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008246:Lysophospholipids; D012235:Rhodamines; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D010590:Phalloidine; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins; C032881:lysophosphatidic acid