title: Ecto-5'-nucleotidase/CD73 knockdown increases cell migration and mRNA level of collagen I in a hepatic stellate cell line.
abstract: Ecto-5'-nucleotidase (eNT/CD73, E.C.3.1.3.5) is a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked cell-surface protein with several functions, including the local generation of adenosine from AMP, with the consequent activation of adenosine receptors and the salvaging of extracellular nucleotides. It also apparently functions independently of this activity, e.g., in the mediation of cell-cell adhesion. Liver fibrosis can be considered as a dynamic and integrated cellular response to chronic liver injury and the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) plays a role in the fibrogenic process. eNT/CD73 and adenosine are reported to play an important role in hepatic fibrosis in murine models. Knockdown of eNT/CD73 leads to an increase in mRNA expression of tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNALP), another AMP-degrading enzyme and thus no alteration is seen in the total ecto-AMPase activity of the cell. eNT/CD73 knockdown also leads to changes in the expression of collagen I and a clear alteration of cell migration. We suggest that eNT/CD73 protein expression controls cell migration and collagen expression in a mechanism independent of changes in nucleotide metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, UFRGS, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudia M B
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Patrícia L C
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Bruno T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Noronha
authors.forename: Márcia R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Wink
authors.forename: Radovan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borojevic
authors.forename: Rogério
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Margis
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.forename: Ana Maria O
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Battastini
authors.forename: Fátima C R
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Guma
mesh_terms: D015720:5'-Nucleotidase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D015720:5'-Nucleotidase