Abstract | BACKGROUND: To investigate the differential expression levels of thymosin beta 10 (T beta 10) and the corresponding changes of actin filament organization in human tumor cell lines with different metastatic potential. METHODS: Four groups of nine human tumor cell lines with different metastatic potential were analyzed for the amount of T beta 10 mRNAs by Northern blot and for their peptide expression levels by immunohistochemistry. The filamentous actin ( F-actin) was observed by staining of TRITC-phalloidin to detect changes in actin organization. RESULTS: In comparison with non-/weakly metastatic counterparts, T beta 10 was upregulated in highly metastatic human lung cancer, malignant melanoma and breast cancer cell lines. Staining of TRITC-phalloidin revealed less actin bundles, a fuzzy network of shorter filaments and some F-actin aggregates in the highly metastatic tumor cells. Meanwhile, the actin filaments were robust and orderly arranged in the non-/weakly metastatic cancer cell lines. CONCLUSION: T beta 10 levels correlate positively with the metastatic capacity in human tumors currently examined. The increasing metastatic potential of tumor cells is accompanied by a loss of F-actin, poorly arranged actin skeleton organizations and presence of F-actin aggregates. There is a consistent correlation between the elevated T beta 10 expression and the disrupted actin skeleton.
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Authors | Cong-rong Liu, Chun-shu Ma, Jun-yu Ning, Jiang-feng You, Song-lin Liao, Jie Zheng |
Journal | Chinese medical journal
(Chin Med J (Engl))
Vol. 117
Issue 2
Pg. 213-8
(Feb 2004)
ISSN: 0366-6999 [Print] China |
PMID | 14975205
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- RNA, Messenger
- Thymosin
- thymosin beta(10)
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Topics |
- Actin Cytoskeleton
(ultrastructure)
- Blotting, Northern
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Neoplasm Metastasis
(genetics, ultrastructure)
- RNA, Messenger
(analysis)
- Thymosin
(analysis)
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