Norepinephrine-induced migration of SW 480 colon carcinoma cells is inhibited by beta-blockers
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Updated: Oct 8, 2026

A Novel In Vitro Wound Healing Assay to Evaluate Cell Migration
Published on: March 17, 2018
K Masur1, B Niggemann, K S Zanker
1Institute for Immunology, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany. kaimasur@uni-wh.de
Abstract:
Beta-adrenoceptors are highly expressed on SW 480 colon carcinoma cells as was assessed by flow cytometry. We investigated the influence of norepinephrine on the migration of these cells using time-lapse videomicroscopy. Norepinephrine-treatment increased the locomotor activity within the population from 25% spontaneously locomoting cells to 65% locomoting cells. The beta1/2-blocker propranolol but not the beta1-blocker atenolol inhibited this increase. The intracellular signaling solely of norepinephrine-induced locomotion involved protein tyrosine kinase activity, whereas both spontaneous and norepinephrine-induced migration were reduced by inhibiting phospholipase Cgamma and protein kinase Calpha activity. In summary, norepinephrine-induced locomotion of SW 480 cells is beta2-adrenoceptor mediated and distinct from spontaneous locomotion concerning the PTK involvement.
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