Abstract
To examine the effects of kallikrein 7 (KLK7) expression in pancreatic cancer cells on cell adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins. Kallikrein 7 was overexpressed in the pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3, and in vitro cell adhesion assays were performed to determine alterations in cell adhesion to collagen I, fibronectin, and vitronectin compared with vector-transfected cells. Changes in cell surface expression of alphavbeta3 integrin were examined by flow cytometry, and the release of soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) was monitored by Western blot analysis. The expression of KLK7 in BxPC-3 cells led to reduced adhesion to vitronectin but not collagen I or fibronectin. Loss of cell adhesion to vitronectin was not caused by changes in the level of alphavbeta3 integrin cell surface expression; however, a significant increase in the amount of uPAR shed was observed in KLK7-expressing cells compared with vector-transfected control cells. The aberrant expression of KLK7 in pancreatic cancer cells leads to a reduction in cell adhesion to vitronectin that may result from the cleavage of uPAR from the cell surface. Kallikrein 7 expression, therefore, may play an important role in the dissemination of tumor cells through the production of soluble uPAR in pancreatic cancer and perhaps other human malignancies.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
