Alterations in cellular adhesion and apoptosis in epithelial cells overexpressing prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2.
Prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2, also referred to as cyclooxygenase 2 ( COX-2), is a key enzyme in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins and other eicosanoids. Rat intestinal epithelial (RIE) cells were permanently transfected with a COX-2 expression vector oriented in the sense (RIE-S) or antisense (RIE-AS) direction. The RIE-S cells expressed elevated COX-2 protein levels and demonstrated increased adhesion to extracellular matrix ( ECM) proteins. E-cadherin was undetectable in RIE-S cells, but was elevated in parental RIE (RIE-P) and RIE-AS cells. RIE-S cells were resistant to butyrate-induced apoptosis, had elevated BCL2 protein expression, and reduced transforming growth factor beta 2 receptor levels. The phenotypic changes involving both increased adhesion to ECM and inhibition of apoptosis were reversed by sulindac sulfide (a COX inhibitor). These studies demonstrate that overexpression of COX-2 leads to phenotypic changes in intestinal epithelial cells that could enhance their tumorigenic potential.[1]References
- Alterations in cellular adhesion and apoptosis in epithelial cells overexpressing prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2. Tsujii, M., DuBois, R.N. Cell (1995) [Pubmed]
Annotations and hyperlinks in this abstract are from individual authors of WikiGenes or automatically generated by the WikiGenes Data Mining Engine. The abstract is from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.About WikiGenesOpen Access LicencePrivacy PolicyTerms of Useapsburg