Remodeling of purinergic receptor-mediated Ca2+ signaling as a consequence of EGF-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The microenvironment plays a pivotal role in tumor cell proliferation, survival and migration. Invasive cancer cells face a new set of environmental challenges as they breach the basement membrane and colonize distant organs during the process of metastasis. Phenotypic switching, such as that which occurs during epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), may be associated with a remodeling of cell surface receptors and thus altered responses to signals from the tumor microenvironment.

Methodology/principal findings

We assessed changes in intracellular Ca(2+) in cells loaded with Fluo-4 AM using a fluorometric imaging plate reader (FLIPR(TETRA)) and observed significant changes in the potency of ATP (EC(50) 0.175 µM (-EGF) versus 1.731 µM (+EGF), P<0.05), and the nat

SUBMITTER: Davis FM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3151299 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature