title: Ezrin is required for epithelial-mesenchymal transition induced by TGF-β1 in A549 cells.
abstract: Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been shown to play a role in cellular differentiation during deve-lopment and tumor invasion. However, the precise molecular mechanisms of EMT are not fully elucidated. Previous studies suggested that the mechanism underlying the possible involvement of ezrin in EMT process might be different from that of moesin, another ERM protein. In our study, we examined the role of ezrin in actin filament reorganization and cell meta-stasis during TGF-β1-induced alveolar EMT. Suppressing ezrin expression limited morphological changes and actin filament remodeling, decreased cell migration and invasion during EMT. Immunofluorescence experiments indicated that EMT characteristics in lung cancer cells are associated to differential ezrin subcellular localization. We also found that podocalyxin interacted with ezrin after TGF-β1 induction. Therefore, ezrin is an important regulator of the EMT process, and its function might possibly be mediated by the ezrin-podocalyxin interaction during TGF-β1-induced alveolar EMT. Our finding provides important new insights into the mechanisms of action of the ERM proteins in the TGF-β1-induced alveolar EMT.
authors: Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, P.R. China.
authors: Miao-Juan
authors: MJ
authors: Chen
authors: Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, P.R. China.
authors: Xue-Juan
authors: XJ
authors: Gao
authors: Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, P.R. China.
authors: Li-Na
authors: LN
authors: Xu
authors: Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, P.R. China.
authors: Teng-Fei
authors: TF
authors: Liu
authors: Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, P.R. China.
authors: Xiao-Hui
authors: XH
authors: Liu
authors: Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, P.R. China.
authors: Lang-Xia
authors: LX
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099149:Ezrin
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000099149:Ezrin; C001643:podocalyxin