Mesenchymal cells reactivate Snail1 expression to drive three-dimensional invasion programs

R.G. Rowe, X.Y. Li, Y. Hu, T.L. Saunders, I. Virtanen, Garcia de Herreros A., K.F. Becker, S. Ingvarsen, L.H. Engelholm, G.T. Bommer, E.R. Fearon, S.J. Weiss

118 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is required for mesodermal differentiation during development. The zinc-finger transcription factor, Snail1, can trigger EMT and is sufficient to transcriptionally reprogram epithelial cells toward a mesenchymal phenotype during neoplasia and fibrosis. Whether Snail1 also regulates the behavior of terminally differentiated mesenchymal cells remains unexplored. Using a Snai1 conditional knockout model, we now identify Snail1 as a regulator of normal mesenchymal cell function. Snail1 expression in normal fibroblasts can be induced by agonists known to promote proliferation and invasion in vivo. When challenged within a tissue-like, three-dimensional extracellular matrix, Snail1-deficient fibroblasts exhibit global alterations in gene expression, which include defects in membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP)-dependent invasive activity. Snail1-deficient fibroblasts explanted atop the live chick chorioallantoic membrane lack tissue-invasive potential and fail to induce angiogenesis. These findings establish key functions for the EMT regulator Snail1 after terminal differentiation of mesenchymal cells
Udgivelsesdato: 2009/2/9
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Cell Biology
Volume184
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)399-408
Number of pages9
ISSN0021-9525
Publication statusPublished - 2009

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