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- Title
Low-expression of E-cadherin in leukaemia cells causes loss of homophilic adhesion and promotes cell growth.
- Authors
Qing Rao; Ji-Ying Wang; Jihong Meng; Kejing Tang; Yanzhong Wang; Min Wang; Haiyan Xing; Zheng Tian; Jianxiang Wang
- Abstract
E-cadherin (epithelial cadherin) belongs to the calcium-dependent adhesion molecule superfamily and is implicated in the interactions of haematopoietic progenitors and bone marrow stromal cells. Adhesion capacity to bone marrow stroma was impaired for leukaemia cells, suggesting that a breakdown of adhesive mechanisms governed by an adhesion molecule may exist in leukaemic microenvironment. We previously found that E-cadherin was low expressed in primary acute leukaemia cells compared with normal bone marrow mononuclear cells. In this study, we investigate the functional importance of low E-cadherin expression in leukaemia cell behaviours and investigate its effects in the abnormal interaction of leukaemic cells with stromal cells. After expression of E-cadherin was restored by a demethylating agent in leukaemia cells, E-cadherin-specific adhesion was enhanced. Additionally, siRNA (small interfering RNA)-mediated silencing of Ecadherin in Raji cells resulted in a reduction of cell homophilic adhesion and enhancement of cell proliferation and colony formation. These results suggest that low expression of E-cadherin contributes to the vigorous growth and transforming ability of leukaemic cells.
- Subjects
CADHERINS; LEUKEMIA; CELL adhesion; GROWTH factors; STROMAL cells; GENE silencing
- Publication
Cell Biology International, 2011, Vol 35, Issue 9, p945
- ISSN
1065-6995
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1042/CBI20100456