Sdc1 Negatively Modulates Carcinoma Cell Motility and Invasion

Researchers at the University of California in San Francisco have identified a new mechanism by which tumor cells become more invasive and metastatic. The study found that Sdc1, a cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan, plays a key role in regulating cell motility and invasion. By silencing Sdc1 expression, the researchers observed reduced adhesion efficiency to collagen I, increased cell spreading and motility on collagen I substrates, and ablated adhesion-induced RhoA activation.

Key Takeaways:

• Sdc1 is a cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan that regulates cell motility and invasion in squamous cell carcinoma cells.
• Silencing Sdc1 expression reduced adhesion efficiency to collagen I and increased cell spreading and motility on collagen I substrates.
• Sdc1 depletion ablated adhesion-induced RhoA activation, suggesting that Sdc1 mediates the link between integrin-induced actin remodeling and motility.
• Rac1 was strongly activated following Sdc1 knockdown, indicating that Sdc1 may regulate cell motility through a Rac-dependent pathway.
• Downregulation of Sdc1 expression during carcinoma progression may represent a mechanism by which tumor cells become more invasive and metastatic.
• T. Ishikawa and colleagues reported their findings in the journal Experimental Cell Research.

Statistics:

• 316 (6) ( Experimental Cell Research issue where the study was published)
• 951-65 (page numbers where the study was published)
• 51 (Parnassus Avenue, Room C-640, San Francisco, CA 94143-0640, United States, is the location of the University of California San Francisco)

Sources:

• Sdc1 negatively modulates carcinoma cell motility and invasion. Experimental Cell Research, 2010;316 (6): 951-65
• Gene Therapy Weekly, 2011, via NewsRx.com