Human RON receptor tyrosine kinase induces complete epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition but causes cellular senescence.

ABSTRACT: The RON receptor tyrosine kinase is a member of the MET proto-oncogene family and is important for cell proliferation, differentiation, and cancer development. Here, we created a series of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cell clones that express different levels of RON, and have investigated their biological properties. While low levels of RON correlated with little morphological change in MDCK cells, high levels of RON expression constitutively led to morphological scattering or complete and stabilized epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Unexpectedly, MDCK clones expressing higher levels of RON exhibited retarded proliferation and senescence, despite increased motility and invasiveness. RON was constitutively tyrosine-phosphorylated in MDCK cells expressing high levels

SUBMITTER: Cote M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4296733 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature