Pancreatic cancer cells overexpress gelsolin family-capping proteins, which contribute to their cell motility.
BACKGROUND
Previously, proteomic methods were applied to characterise differentially expressed proteins in microdissected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells.


OBJECTIVE
To report that CapG and a related protein, gelsolin, which have established roles in cell motility, are overexpressed in metastatic pancreatic cancer; and to describe their pattern of expression in pancreatic cancer tissue and their effect on cell motility in pancreatic cancer cell lines.


METHODS
CapG was identified by mass spectrometry and immunoblotting. CapG and gelsolin expression was assessed by immunohistochemical analysis on a pancreatic cancer tissue microarray and correlated with clinical and pathological parameters. CapG and gelsolin levels were reduced using RNA interface in Suit-2, Panc-1 and MiaPaCa-2 cells. Cell motility was assessed using modified Boyden chamber or wound-healing assays.


RESULTS
Multiple isoforms of CapG were detected in pancreatic cancer tissue and cell lines. Immunohistochemical analysis of benign (n = 44 patients) and malignant (n = 69) pancreatic ductal cells showed significantly higher CapG staining intensity in nuclear (p<0.001) and cytoplasmic (p<0.001) compartments of malignant cells. Similarly, gelsolin immunostaining of benign (n = 24 patients) and malignant (n = 68 patients) pancreatic ductal cells showed higher expression in both compartments (both p<0.001). High nuclear CapG was associated with increased tumour size (p = 0.001). High nuclear gelsolin was associated with reduced survival (p = 0.01). Reduction of CapG or gelsolin expression in cell lines by RNAi was accompanied by significantly impaired motility.


CONCLUSIONS
Up regulation of these actin-capping proteins in pancreatic cancer and their ability to modulate cell motility in vitro suggest their potentially important role in pancreatic cancer cell motility and consequently dissemination.
Thompson
C C
CC
Division of Surgery and Oncology, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, 5th Floor UCD Building, Daulby Street, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L68 3 GA, UK.
Ashcroft
F J
FJ
Patel
S
S
Saraga
G
G
Vimalachandran
D
D
Prime
W
W
Campbell
F
F
Dodson
A
A
Jenkins
R E
RE
Lemoine
N R
NR
Crnogorac-Jurcevic
T
T
Yin
H L
HL
Costello
E
E
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018260:Gelsolin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007536:Isomerism; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000502:physiology; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
D018260:Gelsolin; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; C066575:CAPG protein, human