目的 研究上皮性肿瘤细胞Snail与E-cadherin的表达以及与瘤细胞表型、转移潜能的关系。方法 采用Northern blot、共聚焦激光显微镜研究6株不同组织来源、不同分化程度及转移潜能的上皮性肿瘤细胞、1株正常上皮细胞、1株成纤维细胞中Snail与E-cadherin mRNA和蛋白表达与定位;Boyden小室体外侵袭实验反映细胞的转移潜能。结果 在分化程度较高的癌细胞和对照正常上皮细胞中,E-cadherin mRNA与蛋白表达较强,而Snail表达缺如;在分化程度低、转移潜能高的癌细胞和对照成纤维细胞中,E-cadherin、Snail mRNA及蛋白表达与上述情况相反。E-cadherin多定位于细胞胞浆和胞膜,Snail主要定位于胞核和胞浆。结论 在上皮性肿瘤细胞中E-cadherin和Snail在mRNA与蛋白表达水平上存在逆反关系,且与细胞分化、转移潜能相关。
Objective Malignant transformation of epithelial cell frequently coincides with loss of E-cadherin. Here we study the expression of Snail and E-cadherin and correlate their expression with cell deffirentiation and in vitro invasion. Methods The expression and localization of Snail and E-cadherin were studied by Northern blot and laser eonfocal microsopy in two normal cell lines ( MDCK, NIH 3T3 ) and six carcinoma cell lines (A431, MCF-7, MDA-MB-453, HepG2, MDA-MB-435s, MDA-MB-231 ). Boyden chamber assay was done to detect the invasive ability of cells in vitro. Results Snail mRNA and protein were detected in fibroblasts NIH 3T3 and poorly differentiated carcinoma cell lines HepG2, MDA-MB-435s and MDA-MB-231. On the contrary, E-cadherin mRNA and protein were detected in normal epithelial cell line MDCK and well differentiated carcinoma cell lines A431 and MDA-MB-453. In MCF-7 cells, Snail and E-cadherin expressions were revealed both at mRNA and protein levels. The cells with higher expression of Snail had stronger ability of invasion than those with lower expression of Snail. Conclusion There is an inverse correlation between Snail and E-cadherin expressions and their expressions are correlated with cell differentiation and tumor invasiveness.