title: ED-B fibronectin expression is a marker of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in translational oncology.
abstract: Fibronectin is a component of the extracellular matrix that links collagen fibers to integrins on the cell's surface. The splicing isoforms, containing the ED-B domain, are not expressed in adult tissues but only in tumor stroma or during embryonic development. Fibroblasts and endothelial cells express ED-B fibronectin during angiogenesis. Also cancer cells can synthetize ED-B fibronectin, but its function in tumor growth needs to be further elucidated.We evaluated the expression of ED-B fibronectin in prostate cancer cell lines: PC3 and DU145. Using TGF-β, we induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition in culture and observed an increase of ED-B fibronectin expression. Thereafter, we evaluated the expression of ED-B fibronectin in multipotent mesangiogenic progenitor cells, and in mesenchymal stromal cells. The expression of ED-B fibronectin was much higher in mesenchymal than prostate cancer cells even after the epithelial to mesenchymal transition.Epithelial to mesenchymal transition is a key step for tumor progression contributing to the metastatic spread. Therefore, circulating cancer cells could seed into the metastatic niche taking advantage from the ED-B fibronectin that secrete their own.
authors.affiliation: General Pathology, Department of Translational Research and New Technology in Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Iacopo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Petrini
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barachini
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry, Department of Translational Research and New Technology in Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carnicelli
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galimberti
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, Department of Translational Research and New Technology in Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Modeo
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, Department of Translational Research and New Technology in Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boni
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sollini
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, Department of Translational Research and New Technology in Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola Anna
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Erba
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000187:drug effects; D005353:Fibronectins; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines; C067625:FN1 protein, human; D005353:Fibronectins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
keywords: ED-B; TGF-β; endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition; fibronectin; prostate cancer