Nox4 involvement in TGF-beta and SMAD3-driven induction of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and migration of breast epithelial cells.

ABSTRACT: The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the development of increased cell plasticity that occurs normally during wound healing and embryonic development and can be coopted for cancer invasion and metastasis. TGF-beta induces EMT but the mechanism is unclear. Our studies suggest that Nox4, a member of the NADPH oxidase (Nox) family, is a source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) affecting cell migration and fibronectin expression, an EMT marker, in normal and metastatic breast epithelial cells. We found that TGF-beta induces Nox4 expression (mRNA and protein) and ROS generation in normal (MCF10A) and metastatic (MDA-MB-231) human breast epithelial cells. Conversely, cells expressing a dominant-negative form of Nox4 or Nox4-targeted shRNA showed significantly lower ROS production on

SUBMITTER: Boudreau HE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3448829 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature