title: Elmo1 helps dock180 to regulate Rac1 activity and cell migration of ovarian cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Engulfment and cell motility 1 (Elmo1) has been reported to cooperate with dedicator of cytokinesis 1 (Dock180) and to be linked to the invasive phenotype of cancer cells through activating small G-protein Rac. We aimed to study the role of Elmo1 in the malignant migration of ovarian cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Engulfment and cell motility 1 expression was evaluated in specimens from 93 patients with serous ovarian cancer (SOC) by immunohistochemical staining. Next, Elmo1-RNAi cells were established by validated small interference RNAs. Cell proliferation and cell motility were observed and compared with Dock180-RNAi cells. To confirm their synergetic contribution to forming focal adhesion and activating Rac1, Rac1-GTP level was measured by GST pull-down assay and immunofluorescence was used to observe focal adhesion formation both in Elmo1-RNAi and Dock180-RNAi cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Engulfment and cell motility 1 was mainly overexpressed in high-grade SOC tissues. Western blot analysis demonstrated that both Elmo1 and Dock180 expressions were hampered in Elmo1-RNAi cells. Compared with the negative control, decreased colony formation and cell invasion were observed in Elmo1-RNAi cells and Dock180-RNAi cells. Consistently, both exhibited reduced Rac1-GTP level and inhibited focal adhesion formation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Engulfment and cell motility 1 presents with synergetic action in helping Dock180 to activate Rac1 and promote cell motility, and thus promote untoward expansion and aggressiveness of SOC.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University; and †Department of Pathology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jie-min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Ya-ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Che
authors.forename: Yi-meng
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Hui-juan
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Linghu
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C099818:DOCK1 protein, human; C465214:ELMO1 protein, human; C107953:RAC1 protein, human; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein