Transdifferentiation-inducing HCCR-1 oncogene.
BACKGROUND
Cell transdifferentiation is characterized by loss of some phenotypes along with acquisition of new phenotypes in differentiated cells. The differentiated state of a given cell is not irreversible. It depends on the up- and downregulation exerted by specific molecules.


RESULTS
We report here that HCCR-1, previously shown to play an oncogenic role in human cancers, induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) in human and mouse, respectively. The stem cell factor receptor CD117/c-Kit was induced in this transdifferentiated (EMT) sarcoma tissues. This MET occurring in HCCR-1 transfected cells is reminiscent of the transdifferentiation process during nephrogenesis. Indeed, expression of HCCR-1 was observed during the embryonic development of the kidney. This suggests that HCCR-1 might be involved in the transdifferentiation process of cancer stem cell.


CONCLUSIONS
Therefore, we propose that HCCR-1 may be a regulatory factor that stimulates morphogenesis of epithelia or mesenchyme during neoplastic transformation.
Ha
Seon-Ah
SA
Molecular Genetic Laboratory, Catholic Medical Research Institute, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Hyun K
HK
Yoo
JinAh
J
Kim
SangHee
S
Shin
Seung M
SM
Lee
Youn S
YS
Hur
Soo Y
SY
Kim
Yong W
YW
Kim
Tae E
TE
Chung
Yeun J
YJ
Jeun
Shin S
SS
Kim
Dong W
DW
Park
Yong G
YG
Kim
Jin
J
Shin
Soon Y
SY
Lee
Young H
YH
Kim
Jin W
JW
D000818:Animals; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics
C476732:LETMD1 protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit