biostudies-literatureKim HSNational Research Foundation of Korea8801https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10218451biostudies-literatureUnknown24(10)Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a critical role in the development and progression of lung cancer by promoting its invasiveness and metastasis. Using integrative analyses of the public lung cancer database, we found that the expression levels of the tight junction proteins, zonula occluden (ZO)-1 and ZO-2, were lower in lung cancer tissues, including both lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma than in normal lung tissues analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Although the ectopic expression or knockdown of ZO-1 and ZO-2 did not affect the growth of lung cancer cells, they significantly regulated cell migration and invasion. When M0 macrophages were co-cultured with ZO-1 or ZO-2 knockdown Calu-1 cells, M2-like polarization was efficiently induced. ConvInternational journal of molecular sciencesGNAQ-Regulated ZO-1 and ZO-2 Act as Tumor Suppressors by Modulating EMT Potential and Tumor-Repressive Microenvironment in Lung Cancer.PMC102184512021R1A4A10313802022R1A2C1092155RS-2023-00210847Jeong JYLee SIKim HSKim JEun JWChoi YRSong KSfalseGNAQ-Regulated ZO-1 and ZO-2 Act as Tumor Suppressors by Modulating EMT Potential and Tumor-Repressive Microenvironment in Lung Cancer.Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a critical role in the development and progression of lung cancer by promoting its invasiveness and metastasis. Using integrative analyses of the public lung cancer database, we found that the expression levels of the tight junction proteins, zonula occluden (ZO)-1 and ZO-2, were lower in lung cancer tissues, including both lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma than in normal lung tissues analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Although the ectopic expression or knockdown of ZO-1 and ZO-2 did not affect the growth of lung cancer cells, they significantly regulated cell migration and invasion. When M0 macrophages were co-cultured with ZO-1 or ZO-2 knockdown Calu-1 cells, M2-like polarization was efficiently induced. Conv2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 May2025-04-05T14:15:14.053Z2025-04-05T14:15:14.053ZS-EPMC102184513724014510.3390/ijms24108801