title: Cell fusion between gastric epithelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells results in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and malignant transformation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The discovery of cancer stem cells and tumor heterogeneity prompted the exploration of additional mechanisms aside from genetic mutations for carcinogenesis and cancer progression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of cell fusion between mesenchymal stem cells and the gastric epithelial cells in tumorigenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell fusion between cord blood mesenchymal stem cells and human gastric epithelial cells was performed in vitro. Cell scratch and transwell assays were performed to determine migration and invasion abilities of the hybrids. The expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related proteins and genes were analyzed by immunocytochemistry and real time quantitative PCR. Tumorigenesis of the hybrids was evaluated through in vivo inoculation in nude mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hybrids expressed the phenotypes of both donor cells. Aneuploidy was observed in 84.1% of cells. The hybrids showed increased proliferation, migration and invasion abilities compared with the parental cells. In addition, the expression of N-cadherin and vimentin in the hybrids was significantly higher than that of the epithelial cells, and the mRNA expression of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related genes, Twist and Slug, in the hybrids was also increased compared with that of the parental epithelial cells. Furthermore, the hybrids formed masses of epithelial origin with glandular structures in BALB/c nude mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that cell fusion between gastric epithelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells may result in epithelial to mesenchymal transition and malignant transformation.
authors: Department of General Surgery, Tianjin General Surgery Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China. humphreyhe@163.com.
authors: Xianghui
authors: X
authors: He
authors: Department of Anorectal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Shandong, 256603, China. 957963980@qq.com.
authors: Baosong
authors: B
authors: Li
authors: Department of Surgery, Feixian Hospital, Shandong, 256603, China. sdsy2004@163.com.
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Shao
authors: Department of General Surgery, Tianjin General Surgery Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China. nasy3367@126.com.
authors: Na
authors: N
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of General Surgery, Tianjin General Surgery Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China. evanhsu@hotmail.com.
authors: Yiling
authors: Y
authors: Hsu
authors: Department of General Surgery, Tianjin General Surgery Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China. zhixiang63@sina.com.
authors: Zhixiang
authors: Z
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of General Surgery, Tianjin General Surgery Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China. zhuliwei0804@126.com.
authors: Liwei
authors: L
authors: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics; D005753:Gastric Mucosa; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D006822:Hybrid Cells; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D011003:Ploidies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015415:Biomarkers
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