Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a morphogenetic program essential for embryonic development and wound healing, but can adversely cause fibrosis and metastatic cancer progression when deregulated. Here, we established a model of efficient EMT induction in normal finite lifespan human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC) using transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ). We demonstrate that EMT in HMEC occurs in three distinctive phases that are governed by a hierarchy of EMT-activating transcription factors (TFs). Loss of epithelial cell polarity (ZO-1), and acquisition of mesenchymal marker (Vimentin, Fibronectin) expression are immediate-early events, whereas switching from E-cadherin to N-cadherin protein expression occurs only after EMT-like morphological changes become apparent. The kinetics of TF induction suggests that ZEB1 and SNAIL mediate early EMT induction reinforced by ZEB2, while GOOSECOID and FOXC2 may play a role in EMT maintenance. TWIST and SLUG were not significantly induced in this system. Furthermore, we show for the first time that normal HMEC acquire a CD44+/CD24-/low stem cell phenotype during a third phase of EMT that is characterized by maximum TF expression levels. Our results may have important implications for understanding potential changes that might occur in normal breast epithelium under pathological conditions triggering elevated TGFβ levels.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 659-664 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications |
| Volume | 399 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 1 2010 |
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Keywords
- Epithelial-mesenchymal transition
- Human mammary epithelial cells
- Stem cells
- Transcriptional control
- Transforming growth factor beta
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Cite this
Molecular characterization of TGFβ-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in normal finite lifespan human mammary epithelial cells. / Lindley, Linsey E.; Briegel, Karoline.
In: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol. 399, No. 4, 01.09.2010, p. 659-664.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Molecular characterization of TGFβ-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in normal finite lifespan human mammary epithelial cells
AU - Lindley, Linsey E.
AU - Briegel, Karoline
PY - 2010/9/1
Y1 - 2010/9/1
N2 - Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a morphogenetic program essential for embryonic development and wound healing, but can adversely cause fibrosis and metastatic cancer progression when deregulated. Here, we established a model of efficient EMT induction in normal finite lifespan human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC) using transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ). We demonstrate that EMT in HMEC occurs in three distinctive phases that are governed by a hierarchy of EMT-activating transcription factors (TFs). Loss of epithelial cell polarity (ZO-1), and acquisition of mesenchymal marker (Vimentin, Fibronectin) expression are immediate-early events, whereas switching from E-cadherin to N-cadherin protein expression occurs only after EMT-like morphological changes become apparent. The kinetics of TF induction suggests that ZEB1 and SNAIL mediate early EMT induction reinforced by ZEB2, while GOOSECOID and FOXC2 may play a role in EMT maintenance. TWIST and SLUG were not significantly induced in this system. Furthermore, we show for the first time that normal HMEC acquire a CD44+/CD24-/low stem cell phenotype during a third phase of EMT that is characterized by maximum TF expression levels. Our results may have important implications for understanding potential changes that might occur in normal breast epithelium under pathological conditions triggering elevated TGFβ levels.
AB - Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a morphogenetic program essential for embryonic development and wound healing, but can adversely cause fibrosis and metastatic cancer progression when deregulated. Here, we established a model of efficient EMT induction in normal finite lifespan human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC) using transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ). We demonstrate that EMT in HMEC occurs in three distinctive phases that are governed by a hierarchy of EMT-activating transcription factors (TFs). Loss of epithelial cell polarity (ZO-1), and acquisition of mesenchymal marker (Vimentin, Fibronectin) expression are immediate-early events, whereas switching from E-cadherin to N-cadherin protein expression occurs only after EMT-like morphological changes become apparent. The kinetics of TF induction suggests that ZEB1 and SNAIL mediate early EMT induction reinforced by ZEB2, while GOOSECOID and FOXC2 may play a role in EMT maintenance. TWIST and SLUG were not significantly induced in this system. Furthermore, we show for the first time that normal HMEC acquire a CD44+/CD24-/low stem cell phenotype during a third phase of EMT that is characterized by maximum TF expression levels. Our results may have important implications for understanding potential changes that might occur in normal breast epithelium under pathological conditions triggering elevated TGFβ levels.
KW - Epithelial-mesenchymal transition
KW - Human mammary epithelial cells
KW - Stem cells
KW - Transcriptional control
KW - Transforming growth factor beta
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77956262480&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.07.138
DO - 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.07.138
M3 - Article
C2 - 20691661
AN - SCOPUS:77956262480
VL - 399
SP - 659
EP - 664
JO - Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
JF - Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
SN - 0006-291X
IS - 4
ER -