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TGF-β1 + EGF-Initiated Invasive Potential in Transformed Human Keratinocytes Is Coupled to a Plasmin/MMP-10/MMP-1–Dependent Collagen Remodeling Axis: Role for PAI-1

¹ Center for Cell Biology and Cancer Research and ² Center for Neuropharmacology and Neuroscience, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York

Requests for reprints: Paul J. Higgins, Center for Cell Biology and Cancer Research, Albany Medical College, MC-165, 47 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208. Phone: 518-262-5651; Fax: 518-262-5669; E-mail: higginp{at}mail.amc.edu.

Key Words: epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition • collagenolysis • MMP-10 • PAI-1 • keratinocyte

The phenotypic switching called epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is frequently associated with epithelial tumor cell progression from a comparatively benign to an aggressive, invasive malignancy. Coincident with the emergence of such cellular plasticity is an altered response to transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) as well as epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor amplification. TGF-β in the tumor microenvironment promotes invasive traits largely through reprogramming gene expression, which paradoxically supports matrix-disruptive as well as stabilizing processes. ras-transformed HaCaT II-4 keratinocytes undergo phenotypic changes typical of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, acquire a collagenolytic phenotype, and effectively invade collagen type 1 gels as a consequence of TGF-β1 + EGF stimulation in a three-dimensional physiologically relevant model system that monitors collagen remodeling. Enhanced collagen degradation was coupled to a significant increase in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-10 expression and involved a proteolytic axis composed of plasmin, MMP-10, and MMP-1. Neutralization of any one component in this cascade inhibited collagen gel lysis. Similarly, addition of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (SERPINE1) blocked collagen degradation as well as the conversion of both proMMP-10 and proMMP-1 to their catalytically active forms. This study therefore identifies an important mechanism in TGF-β1 + EGF-initiated collagen remodeling by transformed human keratinocytes and proposes a crucial upstream role for plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1–dependent regulation in this event. [Cancer Res 2009;69(9):4081–91]

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