title: E-cadherin inhibits cell surface localization of the pro-migratory 5T4 oncofetal antigen in mouse embryonic stem cells.
abstract: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) events occur during embryonic development and are important for the metastatic spread of epithelial tumors. We show here that spontaneous differentiation of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells is associated with an E- to N-cadherin switch, up-regulation of E-cadherin repressor molecules (Snail and Slug proteins), gelatinase activity (matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]-2 and -9), and increased cellular motility, all characteristic EMT events. The 5T4 oncofetal antigen, previously shown to be associated with very early ES cell differentiation and altered motility, is also a part of this coordinated process. E- and N-cadherin and 5T4 proteins are independently regulated during ES cell differentiation and are not required for induction of EMT-associated transcripts and proteins, as judged from the study of the respective knockout ES cells. Further, abrogation of E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell contact in undifferentiated ES cells using neutralizing antibody results in a reversible mesenchymal phenotype and actin cytoskeleton rearrangement that is concomitant with translocation of the 5T4 antigen from the cytoplasm to the cell surface in an energy-dependent manner. E-cadherin null ES cells are constitutively cell surface 5T4 positive, and although forced expression of E-cadherin cDNA in these cells is sufficient to restore cell-cell contact, cell surface expression of 5T4 antigen is unchanged. 5T4 and N-cadherin knockout ES cells exhibit significantly decreased motility during EMT, demonstrating a functional role for these proteins in this process. We conclude that E-cadherin protein stabilizes cortical actin cytoskeletal arrangement in ES cells, and this can prevent cell surface localization of the promigratory 5T4 antigen.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Helen L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Eastham
authors.forename: Catherine L R
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Merry
authors.forename: Thomas D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Southgate
authors.forename: Flor
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perez-Campo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Soncin
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ritson
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kemler
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010641:Phenotype; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000187:drug effects; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000906:Antibodies; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015820:Cadherins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C505427:Tpbg protein, mouse; C031192:oncofetal antigens; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases