Metallothionein 1G promotes the differentiation of HT-29 human colorectal cancer cells.

ABSTRACT: Metallothioneins (MTs) are a family of low-molecular-weight, cysteine-rich proteins involved in zinc and redox metabolism, that are epigenetically downregulated during colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, but may be re-induced with a variety of agents. Since loss of MT expression is associated with a worse prognosis, in the present study we investigated the effects of overexpression of the most significantly downregulated isoform in CRC, namely MT1G, on the HT-29 cell line. Overexpression of MT1G resulted in xenograft tumors with an aberrant morphology, characterized by an evident increase in mucin-containing cells that were identified as goblet cells under electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical detection of CDX2 and cytokeratin 20 was also increased, as were goblet‑cell and enterocyte-s

SUBMITTER: Arriaga JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5428900 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature