January 22, 2010The FASEB Journal
Vimentin induces changes in cell shape, motility, and adhesion during the epithelial to mesenchymal transition
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Discussion
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Implication
In vitro study demonstrates that vimentin intermediate filaments drive cell shape remodeling and motility in cultured cells, indicating a direct mechanical role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
Key Points
- To determine the functional role of vimentin intermediate filaments in regulating cell shape, motility, and adhesion during the epithelial to mesenchymal transition.
- Analyzed normal, metastatic, and vimentin-null cell lines using quantitative Western blotting and form factor analysis to assess intermediate filament expression and cell shape.
- Modulated filament assembly using dominant-negative mutants, shRNA knockdown, microinjection of vimentin protein, and cDNA transfection.
- Disrupting or silencing vimentin intermediate filaments caused mesenchymal cells to adopt epithelial morphologies without affecting microtubule or microfilament networks.
- Introducing vimentin into epithelial cells triggered intermediate filament assembly, loss of desmosomal contacts, enhanced motility, and increased focal adhesion turnover.
Cite This Study
Mendez et al. (2010) studied this question.