Loss of N-Myc interactor promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition by activation of TGF-β/SMAD signaling.

ABSTRACT: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is one of the critical cellular programs that facilitate the progression of breast cancer to an invasive disease. We have observed that the expression of N-myc interactor (NMI) decreases significantly during progression of breast cancer, specifically in invasive and metastatic stages. Recapitulation of this loss in breast cell lines with epithelial morphology (MCF10A (non-tumorigenic) and T47D (tumorigenic)) by silencing NMI expression causes mesenchymal-like morphological changes in 3D growth, accompanied by upregulation of SLUG and ZEB2 and increased invasive properties. Conversely, we found that restoring NMI expression attenuated the mesenchymal attributes of metastatic breast cancer cells, accompanied by distinctly circumscribed 3D growth with basemen

SUBMITTER: Devine DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4267223 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature