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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 27, 2013
Extracellular matrix-induced changes in expression of cell cycle-related proteins and proteasome components in
Hannu Koistinen1, Markku Seppälä, Sakari Knuutila
1Department of Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Biomedicum Helsinki, PO Box 700, 00029 HUS, Finland. hannu.k.koistinen@helsinki.fi
Objective:
Extracellular matrix (ECM) components regulate growth and differentiation of epithelial cells, and impaired cell-ECM interaction may lead to increased cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Whereas ECM has been shown to alter cellular morphology and reduce proliferation of HEC-1B endometrial adenocarcinoma cells, little is known about the underlying changes in gene expression. The purpose of this study was to investigate these changes.
Methods:
We studied by cDNA array the effects of ECM components, as present in Matrigel basement membrane cell culture matrix, on gene expression in HEC-1B endometrial adenocarcinoma cells in respect of the same cells cultured on conventional plastic surface. Some of the changes were confirmed by protein analyses.
Results:
As expected, several growth-promoting genes were downregulated, while many genes associated with growth restriction were upregulated in Matrigel-grown carcinoma cells. Also, the expression of many 20S proteasome components was downregulated. The observed changes point to a less malignant phenotype of Matrigel-grown tumor cells, supported by reduced growth characteristics and morphology.
Conclusion:
The study provides further insight into the mechanisms whereby ECM components may participate in the regulation of cell growth--by reducing expression of growth-promoting genes and increasing expression of the genes associated with growth restriction.
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