title: Stromal fibroblasts in the microenvironment of gastric carcinomas promote tumor metastasis via upregulating TAGLN expression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fibroblasts play a critical role in tumorigenesis, tumor progression and metastasis. However, their detailed molecular characteristics and clinical significance are still elusive. TAGLN is an actin-binding protein that plays an important role in tumorigenesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We investigated the interaction between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment to determine how the fibroblasts from human gastric carcinoma facilitate tumorigenesis through TAGLN. QRT-PCR and Western blot indicated that TAGLN expression was upregulated in gastric carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) that promote gastric cancer cell migration and invasion. Using small interfering RNA (siRNA), we found that CAFs enhanced tumor metastasis through upregulated TAGLN in vitro and in vivo. The expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) was significantly lower after TAGLN knock-down by siRNA. TAGLN levels were elevated in human gastric cancer stroma than normal gastric stroma and associated with differentiation and lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CAFs may promote gastric cancer cell migration and invasion via upregulating TAGLN and TAGLN induced MMP-2 production.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Shanghai Gastric Neoplasms, Department of Surgery, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
authors.forename: Beiqin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xuehua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jianfang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Yibing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Yingyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Qinlong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Zhenggang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Bingya
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C051615:transgelin; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2