title: Ezrin overexpression by transformed human ovarian surface epithelial cells, ovarian cleft cells, and serous ovarian adenocarcinoma cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have shown that ezrin expression correlates with ovarian epithelial cancer (OVCA) cell proliferation and metastatic behavior. In this study, we evaluated ezrin expression in transformed ovarian superficial epithelial cells (OSE) in ovarian clefts and in culture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting for immunoreactive ezrin (ir-ezrin) in normal ovarian tissue, cultured OSE, and ovarian epithelial cancer cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While ir-ezrin was not demonstrable in normal cuboidal surface cells or interior ovarian organelles, cells lining the ovarian clefts strongly expressed ir-ezrin. Long-term culture of OSE increased ezrin expression and cytological abnormalities. Administration of estradiol and insulin at levels reported in inclusions dramatically induced OSE ir-ezrin expression to OVCA levels and membrane specializations; ruffling, pseudopodia and filopodia. Moreover epidermal growth factor (EGF) drastically increased ezrin translocation in OSE cells in a time-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ezrin expression by OSE increases during transformation. Ezrin expression is responsive to estradiol and growth factors previously shown to be present in ovarian inclusions. These findings suggest that the microenvironment in ovarian inclusions and clefts contributes to the development of OVCA. Our findings elaborate on the mechanism of the ovarian origin of OVCA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University, New York City, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fadiel
authors.forename: Zhaocong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ulukus
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohtani
authors.forename: Mehrangiz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatami
authors.forename: Frederick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naftolin
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000099149:Ezrin
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D004958:Estradiol; D007328:Insulin; D000099149:Ezrin