title: Cells expressing the C/EBPbeta isoform, LIP, engulf their neighbors.
abstract: Descriptions of various processes that lead to cell-in-cell structures have been reported for decades. The exact molecular mechanism(s) of their formation and the physiological significance of cell-in-cell structures remain poorly understood. We had previously shown that an isoform of the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBPbeta) transcription factor, liver-enriched inhibitory protein (LIP), induces cell death in human breast cancer cells and stimulates autophagy. Here we describe a non-apoptotic cell death process where LIP mediates the engulfment of neighboring cells. We provide evidence of LIP-mediated engulfment via DNA profiling, fluorescent imaging and cell sorting studies, as well as ultrastructure analysis of LIP-expressing MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells. Our work illustrates that expression of a specific transcription factor, LIP, can mediate cell engulfment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sealy
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D017209:Apoptosis; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D057899:Cytophagocytosis; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta; C545012:CEBPB protein, human; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D004247:DNA; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins