title: ROCK inhibition activates MCF-7 cells.
abstract: Dormant carcinoma cancer cells showing epithelial characteristics can be activated to dissipate into the surrounding tissue or organs through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the molecular details underlying the activation of dormant cancer cells have been less explored. In this study, we examined the molecular pathway to activate dormant breast cancer cells. Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibition disrupted cell junction, promoted cell proliferation and migration / invasion in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional substrates. The disintegration of cell junction upon ROCK inhibition, coupled with the loss of E-cadherin and b-catenin from the cell membrane, was associated with the activation of Rac1 upon ROCK inhibition. Migration / invasion also increased upon ROCK inhibition. However, the activation of MCF-7 cells upon ROCK inhibition was not associated with the up-regulation of typical EMT markers, such as snail and slug. Based on these results, we suggest the potential risk for dormant cancer cells to dissipate through non-typical EMT when ROCK activity is down-regulated.
authors: Laboratory for the Study of Molecular Biointerfaces, Department of Oral Histology and Developmental Biology, Program of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Seungwon
authors: S
authors: Yang
authors: Laboratory for the Study of Molecular Biointerfaces, Department of Oral Histology and Developmental Biology, Program of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hyun-Man
authors: HM
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C513384:CDH1 protein, human; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; C107953:RAC1 protein, human; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D051176:beta Catenin; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein