Gap junctions contribute to anchorage-independent clustering of breast cancer cells.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cancer cell aggregation is a key process involved in the formation of clusters of circulating tumor cells. We previously reported that cell-cell adhesion proteins, such as E-cadherin, and desmosomal proteins are involved in cell aggregation to form clusters independently of cell migration or matrix adhesion. Here, we investigated the involvement of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) during anchorage-independent clustering of MCF7 breast adenocarcinoma cells.

Methods

We used live cell image acquisition and analysis to monitor the kinetics of MCF7 cell clustering in the presence/absence of GJIC pharmacological inhibitors and to screen a LOPAC® bioactive compound library. We also used a calcein transfer assay and flow cytometry to evaluate GJIC involveme

SUBMITTER: Gava F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5828067 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature