The Zinc-Finger Protein Slug Causes Desmosome Dissociation, an Initial and Necessary Step for Growth Factor–induced Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition

• DOI: 10.1083/jcb.137.6.1403
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T16:47:50Z
• Authors: Pierre Savagner; Kenneth M. Yamada; Jean Paul Thiery
• Keywords: Slug; Desmosome

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an essential morphogenetic process during embryonic development. It can be induced in vitro by hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF), or FGF-1 our NBT-II cell model for EMT. We tested a central role EMT of zinc-finger protein called Slug. Slug mRNA and levels were increased transiently FGF-1–treated cells. Transient stable transfection cDNA cells resulted striking disappearance the desmosomal markers desmoplakin desmoglein from cell–cell contact areas, mimicking initial steps HGF/SF- Stable transfectant expressed less epithelial, with spreading separation subconfluent cultures. Interestingly, transfected antisense able to resist induction even HGF/SF. This effect was suppressed retransfection sense cDNA. Our results indicate that induces first phase factor–induced EMT, including desmosome dissociation, spreading, initiation separation. Moreover, inhibition experiments suggest also necessary