The role of small GTPases of the Rho/Rac family in TGF-β-induced EMT and cell motility in cancer

Hendrik Ungefroren*, David Witte, Hendrik Lehnert

*Korrespondierende/r Autor/-in für diese Arbeit
14 Zitate (Scopus)

Abstract

This article focuses on the role of Rho family GTPases, particularly Rac1 and Rac1b in TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and EMT-associated responses such as cell migration, invasion, and metastasis in cancer. EMT is considered a prerequisite for cells to adopt a motile and invasive phenotype and eventually become metastatic. A major regulator of EMT and metastasis in cancer is TGF-β, and its specific functions on tumor cells are mediated beside Smad proteins and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) by small GTPases of the Rho/Rac1 family. Available data point to extensive signaling crosstalk between TGF-β and various Rho GTPases, and in particular a synergistic role of Rho and Rac1 during EMT and cell motility in normal and neoplastic epithelial cells. In contrast, the Rac1-related isoform, Rac1b, emerges as an endogenous inhibitor of Rac1 in TGF-β signaling, at least in pancreatic carcinoma cells. Given the tumor-promoting role of TGF-β in late-stage carcinomas and the intimate crosstalk of Rho/Rac1/Rac1b and TGF-β signaling in various tumor cell responses, targeting specific Rho GTPases may allow for selective interference with prooncogenic TGF-β responses to aid in anticancer treatments. Developmental Dynamics 247:451–461, 2018.

OriginalspracheEnglisch
ZeitschriftDevelopmental Dynamics
Jahrgang247
Ausgabenummer3
Seiten (von - bis)451-461
Seitenumfang11
ISSN1058-8388
DOIs
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 01.03.2018

Strategische Forschungsbereiche und Zentren

  • Forschungsschwerpunkt: Gehirn, Hormone, Verhalten - Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM)

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