Macrophage contact induces RhoA GTPase signaling to trigger tumor cell intravasation.

ABSTRACT: Most cancer patients die as a result of metastasis, thus it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms of dissemination, including intra- and extravasation. Although the mechanisms of extravasation have been vastly studied in vitro and in vivo, the process of intravasation is still unclear. Furthermore, how cells in the tumor microenvironment facilitate tumor cell intravasation is still unknown. Using high-resolution imaging, we found that macrophages enhance tumor cell intravasation upon physical contact. Macrophage and tumor cell contact induce RhoA activity in tumor cells, triggering the formation of actin-rich degradative protrusions called invadopodia, enabling tumor cells to degrade and break through matrix barriers during tumor cell transendothelial migration. Interestingly

SUBMITTER: Roh-Johnson M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3962803 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature