AMP-activated protein kinase promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer cells through Twist1 upregulation.

ABSTRACT: The developmental programme of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), involving loss of epithelial and acquisition of mesenchymal properties, plays an important role in the invasion-metastasis cascade of cancer cells. In the present study, we show that activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) using A769662 led to a concomitant induction of EMT in multiple cancer cell types, as observed by enhanced expression of mesenchymal markers, decrease in epithelial markers, and increase in migration and invasion. In contrast, inhibition or depletion of AMPK led to a reversal of EMT. Importantly, AMPK activity was found to be necessary for the induction of EMT by physiological cues such as hypoxia and TGFβ treatment. Furthermore, AMPK activation increased the expression and nuclear localiza

SUBMITTER: Saxena M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6080604 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature