Glucocorticoid induces mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition and inhibits TGF-β1-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and cell migration.
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been implicated in various physiological and pathological events. In this study, we found that the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex) can inhibit transforming growth factor-beta1-induced EMT and cell migration. We also demonstrated that Dex inhibits EMT through a mechanism involving the suppression of ROS generation. Surprisingly, Dex alone induced mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET). Dexamethasone treatment abolished Snail1 binding to the E-cadherin promoter, suggesting that suppression of Snail1 contributes to the above roles of Dex. Our findings demonstrate that Dex functions as both a suppressor of EMT and as an inducer of MET and therefore may be implicated in certain pathophysiological events.
Zhang
Liang
L
Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences. 320 Yue-Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China.
Lei
Weiwei
W
Wang
Xunde
X
Tang
Yunneng
Y
Song
Jianguo
J
D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000494:pharmacology*
D015820:Cadherins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C000604407:SNAI1 protein, human; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D015735:Mifepristone; D003907:Dexamethasone