Abstract
In vivo, cells live, proliferate, move, and die in a densely populated neighborhood surrounded by a lush forest of tissue and stromal components. Few, if any, cellular processes are not affected by a cell's adhesive interactions with its neighbors and with the surrounding matrix. Consequently, changes in a cell's adhesive properties accompany the misregulations in other cell functions that cause and/or result from various pathological conditions such as cancer progression. During the transition from a benign to a metastatic state, there is a breakdown of adhesive bonds between neighboring cells.
Highlights
Most human tumors are of epithelial origin; as carcinoma cells become invasive, they undergo a switch from their differentiated epithelial state to a fibroblastic mesenchymal state [1]
Classical cadherins include E-cadherin, which is expressed in epithelial cells, N-cadherin, which is predominantly expressed in neural tissues and fibroblasts, and VE-cadherin, which is expressed in endothelial cells [4]
We focus on cadherin-mediated adhesion, processes regulating cell-cell adhesion are intimately coupled to those regulating adhesion to the extracellular matrix
Summary
Most human tumors are of epithelial origin; as carcinoma cells become invasive, they undergo a switch from their differentiated epithelial state to a fibroblastic mesenchymal state (epithelial-mesenchymal transition, EMT1) [1]. In NIH3T3 cells, Tiam1-induced Rac1 activation coupled with RhoA inhibition results in increased cadherin adhesion and an epithelial phenotype. In Ras-transformed MDCK cells, Tiam1 is transcriptionally down-regulated, Rac1 activity decreases, RhoA activity increases, cadherin adhesion decreases, and EMT is favored.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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.
