Fibroblasts invade at a snail's pace

February 02, 2009

A transcription factor known to drive the formation of fibroblasts during development also promotes their ability to invade and remodel surrounding tissues, report Rowe et al. in the February 9, 2009 issue of the Journal of Cell Biology.

The conversion of epithelial cells into fibroblast-like mesenchymal cells is a critical event in both normal development and cancer. The transcription factor Snail1 induces this conversion (known as epithelial-mesenchymal transition, or EMT) by repressing the expression of epithelial-specific genes. Little was known about Snail1's role after EMT, although the transcription factor is up-regulated in mesenchymal tissue surrounding tumors and wounds.

Because Snail1 expression is thought to be required for maintenance of the mesenchymal phenotype in cancer, Rowe et al. were surprised to see that normal fibroblasts retained many mesenchymal characteristics when Snail1 was removed. The authors did find, however, that many genes important for cell motility, such as actin-binding proteins and matrix metalloproteinases, were expressed at lower levels in fibroblasts lacking Snail1.

Cells invade tissues by sending out actin-rich protrusions called invadopodia that contain proteolytic enzymes that degrade the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). Fibroblasts without Snail1 formed fewer invadopodia and were less able to degrade the ECM. Rowe et al. transplanted the Snail1-deficient fibroblasts into chick embryos and found that they were completely unable to penetrate the basement membrane and the complex mix of ECM proteins beneath. Moreover, unlike wild-type fibroblasts, Snail1-deficient cells didn't stimulate the ingrowth of new blood vessels-another key function of fibroblasts during wound healing and tissue remodeling.

The team thinks that in addition to its role in EMT, Snail1 also acts as a master regulator of fibroblast function. In cancer cells, says author Grant Rowe, sustained Snail1 expression may not only cause a loss of epithelial markers but also promote tumor aggression by stimulating tissue invasion and angiogenesis.

Rockefeller University Press

---

---

	Fibroblasts: Webster's Facts and Phrases by Icon Group International (Author) Ever need a fact or quotation on "fibroblasts"? Designed for speechwriters, journalists, writers, researchers, students, professors, teachers, historians, academics, scrapbookers, trivia buffs and word lovers, this is the largest book ever created for this word. It represents a compilation of "single sentences" and/or "short paragraphs" from a variety of sources with a linguistic emphasis on anything relating to the term "fibroblasts," including non-conventional usage and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities. This is not an encyclopedic book, but rather a collage of statements made using the word "fibroblasts," or related words (e.g. inflections, synonyms or antonyms). This title is one of a series of books that considers all major vocabulary words. The entries in each book...
	Fibroblast-like: Webster's Timeline History, 1957 - 2007 by Icon Group International (Author) Webster's bibliographic and event-based timelines are comprehensive in scope, covering virtually all topics, geographic locations and people. They do so from a linguistic point of view, and in the case of this book, the focus is on "Fibroblast-like," including when used in literature (e.g. all authors that might have Fibroblast-like in their name). As such, this book represents the largest compilation of timeline events associated with Fibroblast-like when it is used in proper noun form. Webster's timelines cover bibliographic citations, patented inventions, as well as non-conventional and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities in usage. These furthermore cover all parts of speech (possessive, institutional usage, geographic usage) and contexts, including pop culture, the arts,...
	Tumor-Associated Fibroblasts and their Matrix (The Tumor Microenvironment) by Margareta M. Mueller (Editor), Norbert E. Fusenig (Editor) During the last 20 years it has become increasingly clear that the tumor micro-environment, the tumor stroma with its cellular end extracellular components, plays an crucial role in regulating tumor growth and progression. This book on “Tumor-associated fibroblasts and their matrix” as part of the series on “Tumor-Microenvironment” is the first comprehensive discussion of these two main players of the tumor microenvironment. The best experts in this new area of tumor research and therapy review the role of these major components in the tumor stroma in the process of tumor development and progression. They discuss their interaction with other players such as blood vessels and immune cells, and show novel perspectives for tumor therapy. This compilation of excellent contributions of...
	Biology of Fibroblast by E. Kulonen (Editor), J. Pikkarainen (Editor)
	Fibroblast surface protein (Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences ; v. 312) by Antti, Erkii Ruoslahti, and Deane F. Mosher (eds). Vaheri (Author)
	The Fibroblast Growth Factor Family (Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences) by Andrew Baird (Author), Michael Klagsbrun (Author)
	Lycium barbarum glycoconjugates: effect on human skin and cultured dermal fibroblasts.: An article from: Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology by H. Zhao (Author), A. Alexeev (Author), E. Chang (Author), G. Greenburg (Author), K. Bojanowski (Author) This digital document is an article from Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology, published by Urban & Fischer Verlag on January 1, 2005. The length of the article is 4342 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Citation Details Title: Lycium barbarum glycoconjugates: effect on human skin and cultured dermal fibroblasts. Author: H. Zhao Publication: Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology (Refereed) Date: January 1, 2005 Publisher: Urban & Fischer Verlag Volume: 12 Issue: 1-2 Page: 131(7) Distributed by...
	Fibroblast growth factor improves wound healing.: An article from: Dermatology Nursing by Diana Gorgos (Author) This digital document is an article from Dermatology Nursing, published by Thomson Gale on February 1, 2006. The length of the article is 585 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Citation Details Title: Fibroblast growth factor improves wound healing. Author: Diana Gorgos Publication: Dermatology Nursing (Magazine/Journal) Date: February 1, 2006 Publisher: Thomson Gale Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Page: 98(2) Distributed by Thomson...
	PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES, FIBROBLAST CELLS: An entry from Macmillan Reference USA's Encyclopedia of Aging by JUDITH CAMPISI (Author) As the Baby Boomers head toward retirement, the four-volume “Encyclopedia of Aging” offers a timely resource encompassing all aspects of aging. Covering a variety of disciplines—biology, medicine, economics, law, psychology, sociology and history—the Encyclopedia also explores related issues such as religion, spirituality, and ethics.
	Fibroblast growth factor receptor mutations: An entry from Thomson Gale's Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders, 2nd ed. by Java, MS Solis (Author) Information on many genetic disorders, and the frequent new findings on them, has been extremely difficult to come by—until now. The “Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders” addresses the need for current, hard-to-find facts on emerging discoveries. The two-volume Encyclopedia, presented in a single alphabetical sequence, provides clear, complete information on genetic disorders, including conditions, tests, procedures, treatments and therapies, in articles that are both comprehensive and easy to understand, in language accessible to laypersons. The articles are arranged in a standardized format for quick comparison and ease of use, while non-disorder topics are covered in detail with extended entries. Students will want to consult the “Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders”...