SLUG down-regulates the expression of the tight junction proteins Occludin, Claudin-4 and Claudin-5 and confers invasive behavior to gastric carcinoma cells in an in vitro model

摘要: 5365 The transcription factor Slug plays an important role in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) during embryonic development, by down-regulating the expression of epithelial genes, such as E-cadherin, conferring increased migration capabilities to cells. It has been proposed that EMT-like processes occur tumor progression and invasion, which cancer cells detach migrate organs away from primary tumor. We have previously shown is overexpressed gastric carcinomas (GC) its together with E-cadherin down-regulation was associated presence distant metastasis advanced TNM stages.
 aim present work further evaluate GC vitro model. For that, carcinoma-derived NCI-N87 were stably transfected human Slug. Despite well described relationship between down-regulation, we found this adhesion molecule not main target our model, although some levels observed. Instead, resulted disassembly tight junctions, through Occludin, Claudin-4 Claudin-5, de novo N-cadherin. Furthermore, it invasion on Matrigel decrease cell-cell ability these cells.
 These findings suggest overexpression a critical context leading loss junction proteins promoting invasive motile behavior