Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Induction of Adhesion-dependent Signals Using Low-intensity Ultrasound
08:51

Induction of Adhesion-dependent Signals Using Low-intensity Ultrasound

Published on: May 8, 2012

Syndecan-1 and -4 differentially regulate oncogenic K-ras dependent cell invasion into collagen through α2β1 integrin

Karoliina Vuoriluoto1, Gunilla Högnäs, Pipsa Meller

  • 1VTT Biotechnology, Turku, Finland.

Matrix Biology : Journal of the International Society for Matrix Biology
|March 19, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Syndecans, including syndecan-4, play a dual role in 3D collagen, supporting matrix contraction but inhibiting invasion. These findings reveal complex interactions influencing K-ras mutant cell metastasis.

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Extracellular matrix interactions
  • Cancer research

Background:

  • Syndecans act as co-receptors for integrins, influencing cell adhesion and migration.
  • Syndecan-1 is known to mediate α2β1 integrin adhesion to 2D collagen in tumor cells.
  • The role of syndecans in 3D collagen interactions with α2β1 integrin is less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of syndecans in α2β1 integrin-mediated interactions within 3D collagen.
  • To elucidate the role of syndecans in K-ras mutant cell invasion through type I collagen.

Main Methods:

  • Loss-of-function and overexpression experiments were employed.
  • Analysis of α2β1 integrin, MT1-MMP, syndecan-1, and syndecan-4 expression in K-ras mutant cells.
  • Assessment of cell invasion through 3D type I collagen matrices.

Main Results:

  • Syndecan-4 supports α2β1 integrin-mediated collagen matrix contraction in 3D.
  • K-ras activation correlates with increased expression of α2β1 integrin, MT1-MMP, syndecan-1, and syndecan-4.
  • Despite promoting invasion via α2β1 integrin and MT1-MMP, syndecans (syndecan-1 and syndecan-4) were found to inhibit cell invasion into 3D collagen.

Conclusions:

  • A complex interplay exists between α2β1 integrin, MT1-MMP, and syndecans in K-ras mutant cell invasion within 3D collagen.
  • Syndecans exhibit a dual role, supporting matrix contraction while inhibiting invasion in 3D collagen.
  • This intricate mechanism may contribute to tumor cell invasiveness and metastasis.

More Related Videos

A Cancer Cell Spheroid Assay to Assess Invasion in a 3D Setting05:34

A Cancer Cell Spheroid Assay to Assess Invasion in a 3D Setting

Published on: November 20, 2015

Organotypic Collagen I Assay: A Malleable Platform to Assess Cell Behaviour in a 3-Dimensional Context10:45

Organotypic Collagen I Assay: A Malleable Platform to Assess Cell Behaviour in a 3-Dimensional Context

Published on: October 13, 2011

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia01:35

Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia

Invadosome is a broad category of cell surface structures with proteolytic activity that  degrades the extracellular matrix (ECM). Invadosomes are present in normal cell types, including macrophages, endothelial cells, and neurons, as well as tumor cells. Although the macrophage podosomes and tumor cell invadopodia are classified as invadosomes, they have different structures, molecular pathways, and functions. Podosomes are short structures that last for a few minutes. However, invadopodia can...
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
Activation of Integrins01:15

Activation of Integrins

Integrins bind ligands and transmit information from outside the cell to inside or vice-versa through an "outside-in signaling" or "inside-out signaling."
In "outside-in signaling," external factors in the extracellular space bind to exposed ligand binding sites on integrins. This causes the inactive protein to undergo a conformational change to become active. Integrins are often clustered on the cell membrane. Repetitive and regularly spaced ligand binding events provide an effective stimulus.
Small GTPases - Ras and Rho01:24

Small GTPases - Ras and Rho

Ras and Rho are small monomeric GTPases that act downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and regulate various cellular processes. These GTPases switch between active and inactive states by binding to guanine nucleotides.
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
Integrins01:10

Integrins

Animal and protozoan cells do not have cell walls to help maintain shape and provide structural stability. Instead, these eukaryotic cells secrete a sticky mass of carbohydrates and proteins into the spaces between adjacent cells. This network of proteins and molecules is called an extracellular matrix or ECM.
Some ECM proteins assemble into a basement membrane to which the remaining components adhere. Proteoglycans typically form the bulk of the ECM while fibrous proteins, like collagen,...
Selectins01:25

Selectins

Cell adhesion is  an essential aspect of multicellularity. While stable cell interactions usually occur between cells of the same type, transient cell interactions occur between cells of different tissue types, such as between neutrophils and endothelial cells. Selectins are one class of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that bind carbohydrate ligands to form transient cell adhesion. They are rod-like proteins with a long extracellular part of variable length ending with the lectin domain, which...