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Background SHP2, encoded by the PTPN11 gene, is a ubiquitously expressed non-receptor tyrosine phosphatase (PTP). Altered expression and activity levels of SHP2 have also been implicated into the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Objectives In our study, we aim to characterise the role of SHP2 as a possible novel molecular checkpoint of transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ)-induced JAK2/STAT3 signalling in fibrotic diseases. Methods Mice carrying Shp2fl/flxCol1a2-CreER were generated to specifically knockout Shp2 in fibroblasts. SHP2 was inhibited using NSC-87877 inhibitor. The role of Shp2 was investigated in three different mouse models: Bleomycin- and TBRICA induced dermal fibrosis as well as TSK1 genetic model of skin fibrosis. The construct pCMV3-Flag-JAK2 was used for overexpression and for in vitro mutagenesis of human JAK2. Co-immunoprecipitation was performed to confirm the interaction between SHP2 and JAK2. STAT3 activation was analysed by reporter assay. Protein and mRNA expression levels were analysed by Western Blot and qPCR. Results Our data characterise SHP2 as an important regulator of TGFβ signalling in fibroblasts. Although SHP2 expression is decreased in systemic sclerosis (SSc), the moderate downregulation of SHP2 expression is not sufficient to counterbalance the hyper-activation of TGFβ signalling in SSc. However, Shp2-deficient murine fibroblasts are less responsive to TGFβ. An impaired response to the profibrotic effects of TGFβ was also observed in human SSc fibroblasts with siRNA-mediated knockdown of SHP2 and upon pharmacological inhibition of SHP2. We show that SHP2 can dephosphorylate JAK2 at the inhibitory Y570 site to promote TGFβ-dependent activation of JAK2 and its downstream mediator STAT3. In contrast, pharmacologic inhibition of SHP2, overexpression of a catalytically inactive SHP2 mutant or knockout of SHP2 inhibits dephosphorylation of pJAK2Y570 preventing phosphorylation of JAK2 at the activation site Y1007/Y1008 and subsequent activation of STAT3 in TGFβ-stimulated fibroblasts and in experimental fibrosis. Fibroblasts overexpressing SHP2 are more susceptible to the profibrotic effects of TGFβ, whereas the stimulatory effects of TGFβ on myofibroblast differentiation and collagen release are reduced in Shp2 knockout fibroblasts. In addition, fibroblast-specific inactivation of Shp2 in vivo protected from experimental fibrosis induced by overexpression of a constitutively active TGFβ receptor type I, by bleomycin injection and ameliorated fibrosis in TSK1 mice. Conclusions The present study describes for the first time a role of SHP2 in the pathogenesis of SSc. SHP2 is required for the activation of JAK2 and STAT3 by TGFβ. Inactivation of SHP2 prevents fibroblast activation and tissue fibrosis, providing evidence that SHP2 may be a potential target for the treatment of fibrosis. Disclosure of Interest A. Zehender: None declared, J. Huang: None declared, A.-H. Gyorfi: None declared, A.-E. Matei: None declared, C. Dees: None declared, C. Beyer: None declared, K. Gelse: None declared, A. Ramming: None declared, C. Bergmann: None declared, W. Birchmeier: None declared, O. Distler Grant/research support from: Actelion, Pfizer, Ergonex, BMS, Sanofi-Aventis, United BioSource Corporation, Roche/Genentech, Medac, Biovitrium, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, 4D Science, Active Biotech, Bayer, Sinoxa, Serodapharm, EpiPharm, GSK, Pharmacyclics and Biogen, Consultant for: Actelion, Pfizer, Ergonex, BMS, Sanofi-Aventis, United BioSource Corporation, Roche/Genentech, Medac, Biovitrium, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, 4D Science, Active Biotech, Bayer, Sinoxa, Serodapharm, EpiPharm, GSK, Pharmacyclics and Biogen, G. Schett: None declared, J. Distler Shareholder of: 4D Science GmbH, Grant/research support from: Anamar, Active Biotech, Array Biopharma, BMS, Bayer Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, GSK, Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis and UCB, Consultant for: Actelion, Active Biotech, Anamar, Bayer Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Galapagos, Inventiva, JB Therapeutics, Medac, Pfizer, RuiYi and UCB

Background: Although a number of growth factors bind cell-surface heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs), the role of this interaction is unclear except for fibroblast growth factor which requires HSPG binding for signalling. Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) plays important roles in mammalian development and tissue regeneration and acts on target cells through a specific receptor tyrosine kinase encoded by the c-met proto-oncogene. This factor also binds HSPGs with high affinity, but conflicting data have been reported on the role of HSPG binding in HGF/SF signalling. Results: To map the binding sites for HSPG and the Met receptor in HGF/SF, we have engineered a number of HGF/SF mutants in which several clusters of solvent-accessible residues in the hairpin structure of the amino-terminal domain or in kringle 2 have been replaced. Two of the mutants (HP1 and HP2) showed greatly decreased (more than 50-fold) affinity for heparin and HSPGs but retained full mitogenic and motogenic activities on target cells in culture. Furthermore, when compared with wild-type HGF/SF, the HP1 mutant exhibited a delayed clearance from the blood, higher tissue levels and a higher induction of DNA synthesis in normal, adult murine liver. Conclusions: These results establish the following: the binding sites in HGF/SF for Met and for HSPGs can be dissociated by protein engineering; high-affinity binding of HGF/SF to HSPGs is not essential for signalling; one role of HSPG binding in the HGF/SF system appears to be sequestration and degradation of the growth factor; and HGF/SF mutants with decreased affinity for HSPGs exhibit enhanced activity in vivo .

The elevation of tyrosine phosphorylation level is thought to induce the dysfunction of cadherin through the tyrosine phosphorylation of beta catenin. We evaluated this assumption using two cell lines. First, using temperature-sensitive v-src-transfected MDCK cells, we analyzed the modulation of cadherin-based cell adhesion by tyrosine phosphorylation. Cell aggregation and dissociation assays at nonpermissive and permissive temperatures indicated that elevation of the tyrosine phosphorylation does not totally affect the cell adhesion ability of cadherin but shifts it from a strong to a weak state. The tyrosine phosphorylation levels of beta catenin, ZO-1, ERM (ezrin/radixin/moesin), but not alpha catenin, vinculin, and alpha-actinin, were elevated in the weak state. To evaluate the involvement of the tyrosine phosphorylation of beta catenin in this shift of cadherin-based cell adhesion, we introduced v-src kinase into L fibroblasts expressing the cadherin-alpha catenin fusion protein, in which beta catenin is not involved in cell adhesion. The introduction of v-src kinase in these cells shifted their adhesion from a strong to a weak state. These findings indicated that the tyrosine phosphorylation of beta catenin is not required for the strong-to-weak state shift of cadherin-based cell adhesion, but that the tyrosine phosphorylation of other junctional proteins, ERM, ZO-1 or unidentified proteins is involved.

Medulloblastoma (MB) represents the most frequent malignant brain tumor in children. Most MBs appear sporadically; however, their incidence is highly elevated in two inherited tumor predisposition syndromes, Gorlin's and Turcot's syndrome. The genetic defects responsible for these diseases have been identified. Whereas Gorlin's syndrome patients carry germ-line mutations in the patched (PTCH) gene, Turcot's syndrome patients with MBs carry germ-line mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene. The APC gene product is a component of a multiprotein complex controlling beta-catenin degradation. In this complex, Axin plays a major role as scaffold protein. Whereas APC mutations are rare in sporadic MBs, a hot-spot region of beta-catenin (CTNNB1) mutations was identified in a subset of MBs. To find out if Axin is also involved in the pathogenesis of sporadic MBs, we analyzed 86 MBs and 11 MB cell lines for mutations in the AXIN1 gene. Using single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis, screening for large deletions by reverse transcription-PCR, and sequencing analysis, a single somatic point mutation in exon 1 (Pro255Ser) and seven large deletions (12%) of AXIN1 were detected. This indicates that AXIN1 may function as a tumor suppressor gene in MBs.

Interactions between beta-catenin and LEF-1/TCF, APC and conductin/axin are essential for wnt-controlled stabilization of beta-catenin and transcriptional activation. The wnt signal transduction pathway is important in both embryonic development and tumor progression. We identify here amino acid residues in beta-catenin that distinctly affect its binding to LEF-1/TCF, APC and conductin. These residues form separate surface clusters, termed hot spots, along the armadillo superhelix of beta-catenin. We also show that complementary charged and hydrophobic amino acids are required for formation of the bipartite beta-catenin-LEF-1 transcription factor. Moreover, we demonstrate that conductin/axin binding to beta-catenin is essential for beta-catenin degradation, and that APC acts as a cofactor of conductin/axin in this process. Binding of APC to conductin/axin activates the latter and occurs between their SAMP and RGS domains, respectively.

Organ culture and transplantation experiments in the early 1960s and 1970s have demonstrated that growth and morphogenesis of the epithelium of the mammary gland are controlled by mesenchymal-epithelial interactions. The identification of molecules that provide the essential signals exchanged in mesenchymal-epithelial interactions is an area of active research. Recent evidence suggests that morphogenic programs of epithelia can be triggered by mesenchymal factors that signal via tyrosine kinase receptors. This review concentrates on the effects of two mesenchymal factors, Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor and neuregulin, on morphogenesis and differentiation of mammary epithelial cells in vitro and signalling pathways involved during morphogenesis of mammary epithelial cells.

Intercellular adhesion mediated by the E-cadherin/catenin complex is a prerequisite for epithelial integrity and differentiation. In carcinomas, E-cadherin function is frequently disturbed, and has been suggested to increase invasion and metastasis of tumour cells. beta-catenin has also been implicated in signaling pathways essential for tumour formation. We analysed the E-cadherin/catenin adhesion system of colorectal tumours at different clinical stages. In primary carcinomas (n = 91), there was a frequent reduction in E-cadherin (44%) and alpha-catenin expression (36%). In contrast, beta-catenin and gamma-catenin expression were seldom reduced (4% and 15%, respectively). Similar expression patterns were observed in liver metastases from unrelated colorectal tumours (n = 27). There was a significant relationship between loss of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin expression and poorly differentiated (G3-4) tumours. Our results suggest that reduction of E-cadherin/alpha-catenin expression is a frequent event in primary and metastatic colorectal carcinomas. Furthermore, beta-catenin expression remains normal in colorectal cancer, suggesting the essential role of beta-catenin in signaling pathways.

Plakoglobin (gamma-catenin), a member of the armadillo family of proteins, is a constituent of the cytoplasmic plaque of cardiac junctions and is involved in anchorage of cytoskeletal filaments to specific cadherins. Its genetic inactivation leads to an embryonic lethal phenotype due to heart dysfunction related to an impairment in the architecture of intercalated discs and in the stability of the heart tissue. To elucidate the functional consequences of the loss of plakoglobin for myofibrillar function, we monitored passive stress-strain relationship and contractility parameters of demembranated embryonic fibers. Heart fibers obtained from plakoglobin-deficient embryonic mice were significantly less compliant than were fibers from wild-type embryos. This difference was especially pronounced at lower fiber extension levels: at 120% of slack length, compliance was 2.5-fold lower in plakoglobin-deficient mice than in the corresponding wild-type group. Contractile paramenters (force per cross-section; Ca2+ sensitivity of isometric force and shortening velocity at near-zero load) were comparable in all experimental groups. Therefore, we suggest that plakoglobin is important for cardiac compliance but not necessary for the attachment of the myofibrillar apparatus to adherens junctions. Thus, we conclude that the loss of function of desmosomes and the profound disarrangement of junctional components in plakoglobin null embryos is associated with a decreased passive compliance, which may explain the ventricular rupture and consequent pericardial tamponade in embryos lacking plakoglobin.

We have analysed the role of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) in the process of morphogenesis and metastasis of epithelial (carcinoma) cells. HGF/SF induces various morphogenic responses in epithelial cells that derive from different tissues when these are grown in three-dimensional gels, e.g. branching tubules in kidney, breast, and prostate epithelial cells, crypt-like structures with brush border in colon epithelial cells, and alveolar-like aggregates in lung and pancreas cells. Epithelial cells are thus able to form complex structures in vitro which resemble the structures formed in the organ they originate from. We also examined the response of human breast carcinoma cells to HGF/SF in vivo. MDA MB 435 cells transfected with HGF/SF were injected into the mammary fat pad of nude mice, where they form tumours which spontaneously metastasize to the lungs. We found that expression of HGF/SF promoted metastasis whereas expression of the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin was inhibitory. Moreover, expression of E-cadherin reconstituted the ability of the cells to form complex structures in response to HGF/SF in vitro. These data demonstrate that the different responses to HGF/SF depend on the state of the epithelial cells: morphogenesis requires epithelial differentiation and cell polarity, whereas metastasis is observed when the cells have lost their epithelial characteristics. Moreover, we have recently identified Gab-1 as a direct-binding substrate of the c-Met receptor. Gab-1 binds to c-Met phosphorylated on tyrosine residues, but not to a number of other tyrosine kinases from different subfamilies. A newly identified proline-rich domain of Gab-1 is responsible for the binding to the bidentate docking site in c-Met. Expression of Gab-1 in epithelial cells is sufficient to induce c-Met-specific cellular responses which include the formation of branching tubules. Thus, Gab-1 seem to correspond to the substrate of the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase that mediates the epithelial morphogenesis.

E-Cadherin has been shown to be an invasion tumor suppressor gene, but few epidemiological studies have revealed relationships between loss of E-cadherin expression and invasive tumor growth and/or metastasis. The adhesive function of E-cadherin is dependent on the integrity of the catenin components which link E-cadherin to the actin filaments. In order to achieve a better correlation between the loss of cell adhesion and metastasis in cancer, we decided to investigate both E-cadherin and the catenins. 157 archival primary mammary carcinomas were immunohistochemically studied using antibodies against E-cadherin, alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin. The following results were obtained: (a) Independent of the presence of E-cadherin, loss of expression of one or multiple catenins was noted; (b) loss of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin expression was more pronounced in lobular-type than ductal-type carcinomas; c) axillary lymph node metastases were completely lacking only in the group where expression of E-cadherin, alpha- and beta- catenin was preserved: d) no correlation between expression of c-erbB-2 and E-cadherin or one of the catenins was found. The results demonstrate for the first time that consideration of both the expression of E-cadherin and of the three catenins is useful in evaluation of the metastatic potential of mammary carcinomas.

Fur die homotypische Zell-Zell Adhasion epithelialer Strukturen sind neben Desmosomen die Zonulae adhaerentes verantwortlich [1]. Bei diesen bindet E-Cadherin, ein transmembranares, Ca-abhangiges, 120-kDa groses Glykoprotein an das E-Cadherin der Nachbarzelle. Der zytoplasmatische Teil des E-Cadherin bindet uber das β- und γ-Catenin an das α-Catenin und dann an das Zytoskelett. Die Integritat dieses Komplexes ist essentiell fur die Erhaltung der Charakteristika epithelialer Strukturen. Die Storung eines Partners dieses Komplexes fuhrt zur Dissoziation der epithelialen Polaritat, einer mesenchymalen Transformation und zu einer erhohten Motilitat [2–4]. Ziel unserer Untersuchung war es die Expression von E-Cadherin, α-, β- und γ-Catenin in verschiedenen Stadien der kolorektalen Tumorprogression, namlich in Adenomen, Karzinomen und Lebermetastasen, zu untersuchen.

E-cadherin is a Ca(2+)-dependent intercellular adhesion molecule known to exert an invasion-suppressor function. In the present study, E-cadherin expression was immunohistochemically investigated in a retrospective series of 413 RO-resected gastric carcinomas using the monoclonal antibody (MAb) 5H9. Of these cases, 108 tumors revealed a preserved E-cadherin expression similar to that of normal gastric mucosa. In 95 tumors, E-cadherin expression was moderately reduced and in 86 tumors highly reduced. In 124 tumors, no or only a very weak dotted expression could be detected. There was a significant correlation between the degree of E-cadherin expression and the grade of tumor differentiation, as well as with histological type according to the Laurén and the WHO classifications. In contrast, no correlation could be demonstrated between E-cadherin expression and the prognostic parameters depth of invasion, lymph node involvement and vascular invasion. As shown by univariate Cox regression analysis, patients with E-cadherin-positive tumors had significantly better 3-and 5-year survival rates than patients with E-cadherin-negative tumors. This prognostic impact remained present in a multivariate Cox regression analysis, including the prognostic parameters pT category, pN category and vascular invasion.

E-cadherin has been identified as a tumor (invasion) suppressor gene, which is mutated in 50% of diffuse-type human gastric carcinomas. In other carcinomas, the expression of E-cadherin is down-regulated in the poorly differentiated cells such as from breast, bladder, lung and colon. We have here examined the in vivo properties of the genomic E-cadherin promoter in well and poorly differentiated carcinoma cell lines in order to gain insights into the mechanisms of E-cadherin down-regulation in tumors. In vivo footprinting analysis revealed that positive regulatory elements of the E-cadherin promoter (a GC-rich region, the CCAAT-box and a palindromic element) are specifically bound by transcription factors in E-cadherin-expressing but not in non-expressing cells. The tested cell systems include more than a dozen carcinomas cell lines as well as mammary epithelial cells where E-cadherin expression can be switched off by activation of a Fos-estrogen receptor fusion protein and rhabdomyosarcoma cells where E-cadherin expression was induced by transfection with E1A. Mapping of DNase I hypersensitive sites showed that the chromatin structure in the promoter region is loosened in expressing but condensed in non-expressing cells. Furthermore, the endogenous E-cadherin promoter is specifically methylated at CpG sites in the undifferentiated cells. We also show that the in vivo properties of the promoter in E-caherin-negative carcinoma cells are similar as in mesenchymal cells, i.e. fibroblasts or sarcoma cells. These data suggest that silencing of the E-cadherin promoter during epithelialmesenchymal transition and tumor progression is due to a loss of factor binding in vivo and to chromatin rearrangement in the regulatory region.

Scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor (SF/HGF) and its receptor c-Met represent a paracrine signaling system involved in mesenchymal-epithelial interactions during development and during tumor progression. We have examined the promoters of the mouse and human SF/HGF genes by deletion mapping followed by CAT assays as well as by gel retardation and footprinting analysis. The promoter sequences are highly conserved (89.5% identity) up to position -453 from the major transcription start site but diverged considerably further upstream. Both promoters are active in mesenchymal but not epithelial cells thus reflecting the expression pattern of the SF/HGF gene in cells in vitro and in vivo. We have here identified two regulatory sequences in the SF/HGF promoter: a negative element at positions -239 to -258 and a positive element near the major transcription start site; specific deletions destroyed the activities of these elements. We were not able to localize elements on the SF/HGF promoter region that mediate the previously described effects of transforming growth factor beta, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, and coculture of epithelial cells on SF/HGF gene expression. This study represents a first step toward understanding the intricately regulated and cell type-specific expression of the paracrine acting SF/HGF.

The loss of epithelial differentiation in carcinomas, which is accompanied by higher mobility and invasiveness of the tumour cells, is often a consequence of reduced intercellular adhesion. The primary cause of the "scattering" of cells in invasive carcinomas appears to be a disturbance of the integrity of intercellular junctions, often involving the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin. Permanent and transient molecular mechanisms can lead to the impairment of junction integrity of epithelial cells and thus to the progression of carcinomas towards a more invasive state. These include downregulation of E-cadherin expression and interaction between the adherens junction protein beta-catenin and the tumour suppressor gene product APC.

The loss of epithelial differentiation in carcinomas, which is accompanied by increased mobility and invasiveness of the tumour cells, is often a consequence of reduced intercellular adhesion. Recent reports have indicated that the primary cause for the 'scattering' of the cells in invasive carcinomas is a disturbance of the integrity of intercellular junctions often involving the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin. It has also been suggested that during invasion, carcinoma cells convert to a sort of mesenchymal stage, as do normal epithelial cells during development. Permanent and transient molecular mechanisms lead to the impairment of junction integrity of epithelial cells and thus to the progression of carcinomas towards a more invasive state.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transitions play important roles in development and malignancy. Here we discuss molecular events in the control of such transitions: changes in cellular adhesion components, action of oncogenes and tyrosine kinase receptors, as well as activation of transcription factors. In development, epithelial-mesenchymal transitions take place in a temporally and spatially controlled manner, whereas in tumors these changes are highly uncontrolled. Loss of epithelial character is typically observed late in progression of human carcinomas, and correlates there with the acquisition of invasive and metastatic potential.

Scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor (SF/HGF) has various biological effects upon different cells, i.e. induces increased motility and proliferation as well as invasiveness and morphogenesis. The signals given to epithelial cells by SF/HGF are all mediated through the Met receptor tyrosine kinase (Weidner, K. M., Sachs, M., and Birchmeier, W. (1993) J. Cell Biol. 111, 145-154) suggesting that signal diversity is due to the interplay of different downstream pathways. It has also been shown that SF/HGF activates the protooncogene product Ras, i.e. stimulates guanine nucleotide exchange. In order to examine whether Ras is involved in mediating the dissociation and motility signal of SF/HGF to epithelial cells, we have expressed in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells the dominant-negative N17Ras under the control of a modified metallothionein promoter. Induced expression of N17Ras by the addition of Zn2+ clearly prevented dissociation of the cells by SF/HGF. These data indicate that the Ras pathway is indeed essential to mediate the motility signal of SF/HGF-Met to the cell-cell adhesion system and the cytoskeleton of epithelial cells.

Down-regulation of E-cadherin, an intercellular adhesion molecule, and up-regulation of autocrine motility factor receptor (gp78) expressions have been shown to play a role in tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Monoclonal antibodies against E-cadherin and gp78 were used to stain serial snap-frozen sections of 12 normal bladder and 83 bladder carcinoma specimens (27 noninvasive, 53 invasive, and 3 metastases). In normal urothelium, E-cadherin is expressed while gp78 is not. Positive expression of E-cadherin and negative expression of gp78 were found to be associated with a low risk of clinical progression in the superficial bladder carcinoma patient group. While reduction in E-cadherin concomitantly with an increase in gp78 expression was associated with poor prognosis, 71% of the patients (n = 30) underwent rapid cancer progression, and 32% of the patients died of cancer-related disease at a median of 2 years after initial diagnosis. Thus, it is suggested that reduction of E-cadherin expression associated with an increase in the level of gp78 in bladder cancers may define a high risk group of patients. The dual use of these two antigens may improve early diagnosis of high risk bladder cancer patients and influence treatment decisions.

Die Entstehung von malignen Tumoren ist ein mehrstufiger Prozes. Der letzte und prognostisch entscheidende Schritt ist die Entstehung von Metastasen. Bei einer Vielzahl von Tumoren ist die Herunterregulierung oder Abschaltung der E-Cadherin-Expression ein entscheidendes Merkmal metastasierender Karzinome, dies ist auch bei Plattenepithelkarzinomen der Kopf-Hals-Region der Fall. Dieses Phanomen konnte durch eine veranderte Genregulation oder Veranderungen im Strukturgen selbst (z.B. Mutationen) bedingt sein. Zur Aufklarung dieser Frage ist die Klonierung der humanen cDNA und des humanen Promotors notig.

It has been realized that the loss of epithelial differentiation in carcinomas, which is accompanied by higher mobility and invasiveness of the tumor cells, is often a consequence of reduced intercellular adhesion. A variety of recent reports have indicated that the primary cause for the 'scattering' of the cells in invasive carcinomas is a disturbance of the integrity of intercellular junctions. It has also been suggested that during invasion, carcinoma cells convert to a sort of mesenchymal stage, as do normal epithelial cells during development. This paper discusses permanent and transient molecular mechanisms which lead to the impairment of junction integrity of epithelial cells and thus to the progression of carcinomas towards a more invasive state.

The epithelial-specific cell-cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin was analyzed immunohistochemically on tissue sections of 89 human primary infiltrating breast carcinomas, using monoclonal antibodies 6F9 (for cryostat sections) and 5H9 (for cryostat and paraffin sections). The tumors included 41 well and moderately differentiated infiltrating ductal carcinomas (IDCs) most of which (78%) showed strong linear staining at the cell borders at a level, as high as luminal cells of normal mammary glands. The 26 poorly differentiated, more highly malignant IDCs examined also were all positive for E-cadherin, although a higher proportion of them (54%) showed reduced staining, which was heterogeneous and dotted over the cell borders. In contrast, 19 of 22 infiltrating lobular carcinomas (ILCs), which were either of the dispersed (classical), solid, or the mixed type, did not express E-cadherin, whereas three cases showed weak staining. In situ lesions of ILCs and pure lobular carcinoma in situ (four cases) were all E-cadherin negative, whereas intraductal carcinomas (11 cases) exhibited mostly strong staining. The results were confirmed by Western blotting. The data indicate that loss of E-cadherin expression is an early event in the formation of the lobular type of breast carcinomas. The absence of E-cadherin signifies a partial loss of epithelial differentiation and may account for the extended spread of lobular carcinoma in situ and the peculiar diffuse invasion mode of ILC. The generation of dedifferentiated IDCs can only in part be correlated with reduced expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule E-cadherin. Other factors are obviously also involved during invasion of this carcinoma type.

Expression of the epithelial cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin in primary and metastatic gastric carcinoma was examined using immunohistochemical analyses. Compared to normal mucosa, 92% of the primary tumors (n = 60) showed reduced E-cadherin expression, suggesting that down-regulation of this cell adhesion molecule is a common early event in gastric tumorigenesis. No significant correlation was found between E-cadherin expression and tumor diameter, lymphatic vessel invasion, Borrmann classification, lymph node status, or manifest metastases. Although advanced tumors (tumor stage 3/4) showed a loss of E-cadherin-positive cells (or = 50% cells/lesion, P = 0.0168), the most significant correlation was observed between low E-cadherin expression and cellular dedifferentiation (grading 3/4, P = 0.0001) and disintegration of tissue architecture (Lauren and WHO classifications, P = 0.0001). Low E-cadherin expression (or = 50% cells/lesion) was associated with tumor recurrence (P = 0.0013) and mortality (P = 0.0246). E-cadherin expression in metastatic lesions (n = 58) also correlated with the degree of glandular differentiation (P = 0.0001). Significant correlation (rs = 0.686) was observed between E-cadherin expression in primary and metastatic lesions from individual patients (n = 39). However, while metastases derived from E-cadherin-negative tumors remained negative, those originating from E-cadherin-positive tumors frequently demonstrated increased levels of expression. Evaluation of multiple metastases in 11 patients revealed uniformly strong E-cadherin expression in liver metastases, suggesting a possible regulatory role of the microenvironment.

Einerseits werden Invasion und Metastasierung durch die Hinaufregulation der Expression der kritischen Komponenten gefordert; diese konnen als Produkte dominanter Gene betrachtet werden. Proteasen (Kathepsine, Kollagenasen, Plasminogenaktivatoren usw.) sind erste Kandidaten in dieser Gruppe (Basset et al. 1990), da diese Molekule den fur invadierende Tumorzellen notwendigen Raum schaffen konnen. Auch Zelladhasionsmo-lekule und Lektine sind beteiligt, da die invadierenden Zellen auf ihrem Wanderpfad standig neue Kontakte herstellen. Zum Beispiel wurde eine gespleiste Variante des Zelladhasionsmolekuls CD44 entdeckt, die nach Transfektion der entsprechenden cDNS in niedrig-metastatische Zellen das metastatische Potential erhoht (Gunthert et al. 1991). Motilitats- und Wachstumsfaktoren, welche die Zellmotilitat beeinflussen, konnen auch auf das Invasionsverhalten Auswirkungen haben. Zum Beispiel fordern der Scatterfaktor und der Fibroblastenwachstumsfaktor die Invasivitat von Epithelzellen in vitro (Weichner et al. 1990; Jouanneau et al. 1991). Die cDNS fur den Rezeptor des autokrinen Motilitatsfaktors (AMF), der an der Progression von Harnblasenkarzinomen beteiligt zu sein scheint, wurde bereits charakterisiert; das kodierte Protein weist eine Homologie zu p53 auf (Watanabe et al. 1991).

Tissue sections of 32 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the head and neck were investigated for the expression of the epithelium-specific cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin. We found that E-cadherin expression is inversely correlated both with the loss of differentiation of the tumor and with lymph node metastasis. The well-differentiated SCCs expressed E-cadherin, often as strongly as the normal stratified epithelium (12 cases were tested); the moderately differentiated SCCs expressed intermediate amounts of E-cadherin or were heterogeneous (15 cases were analyzed); whereas the poorly differentiated SCCs were all E-cadherin-negative (five cases were investigated). Furthermore, seven of eight infiltrated lymph nodes of SCCs were E-cadherin-negative. These data indicate that the loss of the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin in fact plays an important role in the progression of human squamous cell carcinomas, i.e., that down-regulation of expression is associated with dedifferentiation and metastasis of the tumor cells in vivo.

The acquisition of invasive properties by transformed epithelial cells constitutes an essential step in the progression of carcinomas. We have defined 2 types of interferences leading to enhanced motility and invasiveness of epithelial cells: (i) disturbances of intercellular adhesion, and (ii) treatment with "scatter factor", a secretory protein of mesenchymal cells. Invasive properties (invasion of collagen gels or embryonal heart tissue) are acquired by epithelial cells in vitro when intercellular adhesion is inhibited by antibodies that are specific for the cell-cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin. Furthermore, we found that differentiated human carcinoma cell lines are noninvasive and express E-cadherin, whereas dedifferentiated carcinoma lines are invasive and have lost E-cadherin expression. Invasiveness of these latter cells could be prevented by transfection with E-cadherin cDNA and was again induced by treatment of the transfected cells with anti-E-cadherin antibodies. A correlation between the degree of tumor differentiation and the amount of E-cadherin expression was also visualized on frozen sections of ovarian carcinomas, lobular breast carcinomas, and squamous carcinomas of head and neck. Thus, loss of E-cadherin appears to be a critical step in the establishment of an invasive, i.e. fully malignant phenotype. Scatter factor, which is also capable of dissociating epithelial cell colonies in vitro, was isolated from conditional medium of human fibroblasts; it is a 92,000 mol.wt glycoprotein, which is proteolytically cleaved into 62,000 and 34/32,000 mol.wt subunits. The purified glycoprotein induces invasion of MDCK cells into collagen matrices, and induces or enhances the invasive properties of various human carcinoma cell lines. Sequencing of tryptic peptides of scatter factor revealed strong similarity with hepatocyte growth factor. Furthermore, both factors exhibit identical activities, i.e. scatter factor stimulates DNA synthesis of primary hepatocytes and hepatocyte growth factor dissociates and increases the motility of various epithelial cells. Thus scatter factor and hepatocyte growth factor represent identical or closely similar proteins.

In the preceding paper (Sheetz, M. and S.J. Singer. 1977. J Cell Biol. 73:638-646) it was shown that erythrocyte ghosts undergo pronounced shape changes in the presence of mg-ATP. The biochemical effects of the action of ATP are herein examined. The biochemical effects of the action of ATP are herein examined. Phosphorylation by ATP of spectrin component 2 of the erythrocyte membrane is known to occur. We have shown that it is only membrane protein that is significantly phosphorylated under the conditions where the shape changes are produced. The extent of this phosphorylation rises with increasing ATP concentration, reaching nearly 1 mol phosphoryle group per mole of component 2 at 8mM ATP. Most of this phosphorylation appears to occur at a single site on the protein molecule, according to cyanogen bromide peptide cleavage experiments. The degree of phosphorylation of component 2 is apparently also regulated by a membrane-bound protein phosphatase. This activity can be demonstrated in erythrocyte ghosts prepared from intact cells prelabeled with [(32)P]phosphate. In addition to the phosphorylation of component 2, some phosphorylation of lipids, mainly of phosphatidylinositol, is also known to occur. The ghost shape changes are, however, shown to be correlated with the degree of phosphorylation of component 2. In such experiment, the incorporation of exogenous phosphatases into ghosts reversed the shape changes produced by ATP, or by the membrane-intercalating drug chlorpromazine. The results obtained in this and the preceding paper are consistent with the proposal that the erythrocyte membrane possesses kinase and phosphates activities which produce phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of a specific site on spectrin component 2 molecules; the steady-state level of this phosphorylation regulates the structural state of the spectrin complex on the cytoplasmic surface of the membrane, which in turn exerts an important control on the shape of the cell.

We have tested transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) in the two-stage BALB/c 3T3 cell transformation assay for possible tumor-promoting activity, since it has several effects similar to those of tumor-promoting phorbol esters. After initiation of BALB/c 3T3 cells with 3-methylchol-anthrene, treatment with TGF beta at 1 ng/ml alone or in combination with epidermal growth factor (EGF) for 4 weeks enhanced the number of transformed foci by 5- to 6-fold in comparison with uninitiated cells. Initiation treatment alone induced no or very few transformed foci in several assays. Treatment with phorbol-12,13-didecanoate (PDD) at 100 ng/ml for 4 weeks enhanced the number of transformed foci in initiated BALB/c 3T3 cells by 4- to 5-fold in comparison with uninitiated cells. Thus, TGF beta at 1 ng/ml is as potent as PDD at 100 ng/ml for tumor-promoting activity in the two-stage BALB/c 3T3 cell transformation assay. The enhancing effect of TGF beta was dose-related in the dose range tested (0.03-1 ng/ml) and was not reversible. Some of the foci induced by combined MCA-TGF beta-EGF treatment were cloned, and eight out of nine clones tested produced tumors in nude mice. TGF beta (1 ng/ml) plus EGF (2 ng/ml) increased the saturation density to a similar extent as PDD (100 ng/ml) but did not affect the growth of BALB/c 3T3 cells. We observed no change in junctional intercellular communication, as measured by the dye transfer method, when cells were treated with TGF beta during the two-stage BALB/c 3T3 cell transformation assay. Nevertheless, there was selective communication between transformed and surrounding nontransformed cells; MCA-TGF beta transformed cells intercommunicated among themselves but not with surrounding nontransformed cells. Our results indicate that TGF beta has potent tumor-promoting activity in vitro, but that this activity is not mediated by a complete blockage of intercellular communication, as is suggested for phorbol ester tumor promoters.

Monoclonal antibodies raised against B 16 melanoma cells in syngeneic mice were functionally screened for their ability to inhibit cell adhesion in tissue culture. Three of these antibodies (16/43, 16/77, 16/82), when preinjected into C57BL/6 mice, markedly reduced the number of experimental lung metastases produced by B 16 cells, possibly by interference with their adhesion to the lung endothelia. We now report that these monoclonal antibodies block in vitro attachment of the majority of human melanoma cell lines tested and also of carcinoma, neuroblastoma, and glioblastoma cells from both mice and humans but untransformed cell lines such as 3T3 mouse or MRC-5 human fibroblasts are not affected. The antibodies also react with mouse teratocarcinoma stem cells (F9, PCC4) but not with differentiated teratocarcinoma lines (PYS-2, 944). Furthermore, the antiadhesion activity of the antibodies could be quantitatively absorbed by intact human and mouse tumor cells but not by untransformed cells, suggesting that the corresponding antigens may represent tumor-associated cell surface components. Correspondingly, the antigens were found on simian virus 40-transformed 3T3 mouse fibroblasts and are expressed in a temperature-sensitive fashion in chicken fibroblasts transformed with a temperature-sensitive Rous sarcoma virus. On "immunoblots" of NaDodSO4-containing gels the three selected antibodies (16/43, 16/82, 19/1) were absorbed by antigens with molecular weights of 40,000 and 50,000.

Focal contacts of fibroblasts are the areas of the nearest contact to the substrate where actin-containing microfilament bundles terminate. They represent characteristic structures intimately involved in cellular attachment. Focal contacts are enriched in the cytoskeletal protein vinculin, but are devoid of extracellular fibronectin. Fibronectin is rather accumulated between the attachment sites. The importance of fibronectin and other surface molecules for the formation of focal contacts has been investigated by comparing the effect anti-fibronectin and anti-cell surface antibodies have upon the attachment process.

ATP-induced endocytosis in human erythrocyte ghosts has been studied, and a procedure for the isolation of the endocytotic vesicles is described. Under isotonic conditions and 37 degrees C, optimal endocytosis occurs with concentrations of 4 to 10 mM MgATP. Within 30 min, up to 45% of the membrane is removed from the surface and converted into sealed inside-out vesicles. Local anesthetics, such as chlorpromazine, potentiate ATP-induced endocytosis in ghosts. Forcing cells containing endocytotic vesicles through a hypodermic needle leads to the exclusive fragmentation of the outermost plasma membrane. The endocytosed vesicles can then be separated from these fragments by centrifugation on a gradient of dextran T70. Biochemical analyses indicate that endocytotic vesicles contain full complements of the major membrane proteins (i.e. also spectrin and actin), common phospholipids, fatty acids, and cholesterol. Furthermore, they exhibit a fully intact spectrin component 2 phosphorylation machinery. In contrast, MgATPase activity is largely excluded from these vesicles. The novel inside-out vesicles described have properties different from those of previously analyzed fragments of the erythrocyte membrane. They will permit a detailed study of a native spectrin-actin network now exposed to the outside.

Recent data indicate that beta type transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) may be a bifunctional regulator of cellular growth: it induces anchorage-independent growth of certain cells but is also capable of inhibiting anchorage-dependent or -independent proliferation of a variety of normal epithelial and transformed cells. We show that TGF-beta is also a reversible inhibitor of proliferation of bovine aortic endothelial cells in culture. TGF-beta inhibits the proliferation of endothelial cells grown in the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Dose-dependent inhibition occurs at 0.2-2.0 ng/ml TGF-beta. Inhibition of cell proliferation in the presence of a maximally stimulating dose of bFGF is not overcome by a tenfold excess of bFGF, suggesting that antagonism of bFGF-induced cell proliferation by TGF-beta is of a non-competitive nature. TGF-beta affects the morphology of confluent cells in a reversible manner.

To identify possible substrate-binding subunit(s) of yeast cytochrome c oxidase (ferrocytochrome c:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1-9-3-1), the purified enzyme was reacted with yeast iso-1-cytochrome c whose single free sulfhydryl group at position 107 had been activated with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate). The resulting cytochrome c derivative appeared to function as an "affinity-label" of cytochrome oxidase, since it rapidly inactivated the enzyme. Inactivation was competitively prevented by underivatized cytochrome c. When the "affinity-labeled" oxidase was analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide electrophoresis in dodecyl sulfate (separation in the second dimension being carried out in the presence of excess sulfhydryl compound), it was found that the derivatized cytochrome c had specifically formed a mixed disulfide with the mitochondrially made subunit III (apparent molecular weight 24,000) of the oxidase. Similar results were obtained when underivatized iso-I-cytochrome c was crosslinked to the oxidase by oxidative disulfide bridge formation in the presence of ortho-phenanthroline and Cu++. These data indicate that the hydrophobic mitochondrially made subunit III of yeast cytochrome c oxidase is in close proximity to the cytochrome c binding site on the enzyme. Since cytochrome c and the mitochondrially made cytochrome oxidase subunit III are typical peripheral and integral membrane proteins, respectively, the present study suggests a useful approach for analyzing specific interactions between these different classes of membrane proteins.