Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
06:54

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells

Published on: October 27, 2020

Troglitazone increases expression of E-cadherin and claudin 4 in human pancreatic cancer cells

Shima Kumei1, Wataru Motomura, Takayuki Yoshizaki

  • 1Department of General Medicine, Asahikawa Medical College, midorigaoka-higashi 2-1-1, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 078-8510, Japan.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|March 17, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Troglitazone enhances E-cadherin and claudin 4 expression in pancreatic cancer cells, potentially by inhibiting MEK-ERK signaling. This mechanism may reduce cancer cell invasion.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Pancreatic cancer exhibits aggressive behavior and metastasis.
  • E-cadherin and claudin 4 are crucial cell adhesion molecules.
  • Understanding molecular regulators of pancreatic cancer invasion is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of troglitazone on E-cadherin and claudin 4 expression in human pancreatic cancer cells.
  • To elucidate the signaling pathways involved in troglitazone's action.
  • To explore the potential of troglitazone in modulating pancreatic cancer cell invasiveness.

Main Methods:

  • Human pancreatic cancer PK-1 cells were treated with varying concentrations of troglitazone.
  • Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to assess mRNA and protein expression levels.
  • The roles of PPARgamma and MEK-ERK signaling pathways were investigated using specific inhibitors (GW9662 and U0126).
  • Cell invasion assays were performed to evaluate the functional impact of troglitazone treatment.

Main Results:

  • Troglitazone significantly increased E-cadherin and claudin 4 mRNA and protein expression in a dose-dependent manner.
  • Troglitazone's effects were independent of PPARgamma signaling, as shown by the lack of blockade by GW9662.
  • Inhibition of MEK-ERK signaling by U0126 mimicked troglitazone's effect on E-cadherin and claudin 4 expression and inhibited cell invasion.
  • Snail, Slug, and ZEB1 mRNA levels remained unchanged, suggesting they are not involved in troglitazone-induced E-cadherin upregulation.

Conclusions:

  • Troglitazone enhances E-cadherin and claudin 4 expression in pancreatic cancer cells.
  • The mechanism appears to involve the inhibition of the MEK-ERK signaling pathway, independent of PPARgamma.
  • These findings suggest a potential therapeutic role for troglitazone in reducing pancreatic cancer cell invasion.

More Related Videos

Therapeutic Gene Delivery and Transfection in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells using Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-targeted Gelatin Nanoparticles08:35

Therapeutic Gene Delivery and Transfection in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells using Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-targeted Gelatin Nanoparticles

Published on: January 4, 2012

Oncogene Expression Analysis with Alterations in pH in a Pancreatic Ductal Cell Line06:24

Oncogene Expression Analysis with Alterations in pH in a Pancreatic Ductal Cell Line

Published on: April 11, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Cell Specific Gene Expression01:58

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors01:23

Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) is a serine protease widely distributed in the body. It's involved in the inactivation of GLP-1 and GIP hormones, which are crucial for insulin regulation. DPP-4 inhibitors, such as sitagliptin (Januvia), saxagliptin (Onglyza), linagliptin (Tradjenta), alogliptin (Nesina), and vildagliptin (Galvus), help increase the proportion of active GLP-1, enhancing insulin secretion. These inhibitors work by competitively binding to DPP-4. This binding causes a significant...
Cadherins in Tissue Organization01:19

Cadherins in Tissue Organization

The cadherins are a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules comprising over 180 variants, with specific tissues expressing a particular combination of cadherin types. Cadherins generally exhibit homophilic binding; i.e., cadherins on one cell bind to cadherins of the same or closely related type on another cell. Thus, cells of the same type have a specific affinity to bind to each other and sort themselves into clusters to form tissues.
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...