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01-04-2012 | Original Paper

Transforming Growth Factor-β1 (TGF-β1) Driven Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is Accentuated by Tumour Necrosis Factor α (TNFα) via Crosstalk Between the SMAD and NF-κB Pathways

Authors: Lee A. Borthwick, Aaron Gardner, Anthony De Soyza, Derek A. Mann, Andrew J. Fisher

Published in: Cancer Microenvironment | Issue 1/2012

Abstract

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process by which an epithelial cell alters its phenotype to that of a mesenchymal cell and plays a critical role in embryonic development, tumour invasion and metastasis and tissue fibrosis. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) continues to be regarded as the key growth factor involved in driving EMT however recently tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) has been demonstrated to accentuate TGF-β1 driven EMT. In this study we investigate how various signalling pathways contribute to this accentuated effect. A549 cells were treated with TGF-β1 (10 ng/ml), TNFα (20 ng/ml) or a combination of both for 72 h and EMT assessed. The effect of selective inhibition of the SMAD, MAPK and NF-κB pathways on EMT was assessed. A549 cells treated with TGF-β1 downregulate the expression of epithelial markers, increase the expression of mesenchymal markers, secrete matrix-metalloproteinases and become invasive. Significantly, TGF-β1 driven EMT is accentuated by co-treatment with TNFα. SMAD 3 inhibition attenuated TGF-β1 driven EMT but has no effect on the accentuation effect of TNFα. However, inhibiting IKKβ blocked both TGF-β1 driven EMT and the accentuating action of TNFα. Inhibiting p38 and ERK signalling had no effect on EMT. TNFα accentuates TGF-β1 driven EMT in A549 cells via a SMAD 2/3 independent mechanism involving the NF-κB pathway independent of p38 and ERK 1/2 activation.

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Title: Transforming Growth Factor-β1 (TGF-β1) Driven Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is Accentuated by Tumour Necrosis Factor α (TNFα) via Crosstalk Between the SMAD and NF-κB Pathways
Authors: Lee A. Borthwick
Aaron Gardner
Anthony De Soyza
Derek A. Mann
Andrew J. Fisher
Publication date: 01-04-2012
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Cancer Microenvironment / Issue 1/2012
Print ISSN: 1875-2292
Electronic ISSN: 1875-2284
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12307-011-0080-9

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