Abstract
The generation of invasiveness in transformed cells represents an essential step of tumor progression. We show here, first, that nontransformed Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells acquire invasive properties when intercellular adhesion is specifically inhibited by the addition of antibodies against the cell adhesion molecule uvomorulin; the separated cells then invade collagen gels and embryonal heart tissue. Second, MDCK cells transformed with Harvey and Moloney sarcoma viruses are constitutively invasive, and they were found not to express uvomorulin at their cell surface. These data suggest that the loss of adhesive function of uvomorulin (which is identical to E-cadherin and homologous to L-CAM) is a critical step in the promotion of epithelial cells to a more malignant, i.e., invasive, phenotype. Similar modulation of intercellular adhesion might also occur during invasion of carcinoma cells in vivo.
Keywords
BiologyCell biologyCell adhesionCell adhesion moleculeIntracellularCell–cell interactionCadherinCellAdhesionCell cultureBiochemistryChemistry
Affiliated Institutions
Related Publications
The mammalian Scribble polarity protein regulates epithelial cell adhesion and migration through E-cadherin
Scribble (Scrib) is a conserved polarity protein required in Drosophila melanogaster for synaptic function, neuroblast differentiation, and epithelial polarization. It is also a...
E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion prevents invasiveness of human carcinoma cells.
The ability of carcinomas to invade and to metastasize largely depends on the degree of epithelial differentiation within the tumors, i.e., poorly differentiated being more inva...
Differential extractability of influenza virus hemagglutinin during intracellular transport in polarized epithelial cells and nonpolar fibroblasts.
Biochemical changes in the influenza virus hemagglutinin during intracellular transport to the apical plasma membrane of epithelial cells were investigated in Madin-Darby canine...
Cell-cell contacts mediated by E-cadherin (uvomorulin) restrict invasive behavior of L-cells.
L-cells were cotransfected with plasmids coding for mouse E-cadherin (uvomorulin) and the neophosphotransferase gene, and stable transfectants expressing E-cadherin at the cell ...
Variable β-catenin expression in colorectal cancers indicates tumor progression driven by the tumor environment
Invasion and dissemination of well-differentiated carcinomas are often associated with loss of epithelial differentiation and gain of mesenchyme-like capabilities of the tumor c...
Publication Info
- Year
- 1989
- Type
- article
- Volume
- 108
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 2435-2447
- Citations
- 949
- Access
- Closed
External Links
Social Impact
Altmetric
PlumX Metrics
Social media, news, blog, policy document mentions
Citation Metrics
949
OpenAlex
Cite This
Jürgen Behrens,
M. Mareel,
Frans van Roy
et al.
(1989).
Dissecting tumor cell invasion: epithelial cells acquire invasive properties after the loss of uvomorulin-mediated cell-cell adhesion..
The Journal of Cell Biology
, 108
(6)
, 2435-2447.
https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.108.6.2435
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1083/jcb.108.6.2435