title: Transdifferentiation-inducing HCCR-1 oncogene.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Genetic Laboratory, Catholic Medical Research Institute, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seon-Ah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Hyun K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: JinAh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: SangHee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Youn S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soo Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Yong W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tae E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yeun J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Shin S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jeun
authors.forename: Dong W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong G
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soon Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Young H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: C476732:LETMD1 protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit