title: Reversibility of the Snail-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition revealed by the Cre-loxP system.
abstract: The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a key process in the tumor metastatic cascade, is characterized by the loss of cell-cell junctions and cell polarity, as well as the acquisition of migratory and invasive properties. Snail is an EMT-inducer whose expression in several different epithelial cells, e.g., Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK), leads to EMT. To further understand EMT induced by Snail expression, the Cre-loxP site-specific recombination system was used to investigate its reversibility. Transfection of MDCK cells with loxP-flanked Snail (Snail-loxP) resulted in EMT induction, which included the acquisition of a spindle-shaped fibroblastic morphology, the downregulation of epithelial markers, and the upregulation of mesenchymal markers. DNA methylation of the E-cadherin promoter, which often occurs during E-cadherin downregulation, was not observed in Snail+ cells. After Cre-mediated excision of Snail-loxP, the cells reacquired an epithelial morphology, upregulated epithelial markers, and downregulated mesenchymal markers. Thus, EMT induced by Snail expression was reversible.
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan. Electronic address: mozawa@m.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp.
authors: Masayuki
authors: M
authors: Ozawa
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan.
authors: Wakako
authors: W
authors: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017101:Bacteriophage P1 / Q000201:enzymology*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004285:Dogs; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D015870:Gene Expression; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics*; D061985:Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases
keywords: Cre–loxP; EMT; MET; Reversibility; Snail