HMGA2 and Smads co-regulate SNAIL1 expression during induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

ABSTRACT: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is important during embryonic cell layer movement and tumor cell invasiveness. EMT converts adherent epithelial cells to motile mesenchymal cells, favoring metastasis in the context of cancer progression. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) triggers EMT via intracellular Smad transducers and other signaling proteins. We previously reported that the high mobility group A2 (HMGA2) gene is required for TGF-beta to elicit EMT in mammary epithelial cells. In the present study we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which HMGA2 induces EMT. We found that HMGA2 regulates expression of many important repressors of E-cadherin. Among these, we analyzed in detail the zinc-finger transcription factor SNAIL1, which plays key roles in tumor progression

SUBMITTER: Thuault S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2662269 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature