Activation of ERK-FAK signaling pathway and enhancement of cell migration involved in the early interaction between oral keratinocytes and Candida albicans.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the early molecular events in oral keratinocytes induced by Candida albicans challenge.


METHODS
The oral keratinocyte cell line, Tca8113, was used to study the molecular events induced by C. albicans challenge in oral keratinocytes. The phosphorylation statuses of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) upon C. albicans challenge were assessed using specific antibodies and western blotting. Specific inhibitors for ERK and FAK were used to validate the involvement of ERK-FAK signaling cascade. A Transwell insert system-based migration study was performed to evaluate the involvement of the C. albicans-dependent ERK-FAK activation with cell migration.


RESULTS
Following the stimulation with C. albicans, a transient activation of ERK was observed, which reached a peak at 10 min post stimulation. Similarly, a transient activation of FAK, the downstream substrate of ERK, was also observed upon C. albicans challenges, which reach the maximum at 20 min. Specific inhibitors for ERK and FAK abolished the C. albicans-induced ERK and FAK activations. The elevated migratory ability of oral keratinocyte was observed upon stimulation with C. albicans, and was synchronous with the ERK-FAK activation.


CONCLUSIONS
ERK-FAK signaling cascades are involved in the early interaction between the oral keratinocytes and C. albicans, which appears to be linked with the enhanced cell migration.
Shi
Jing
J
State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China.
Zeng
Xin
X
Zhou
Min
M
Chen
Qianming
Q
D002176:Candida albicans; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors
D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3