[Metastatic ability and type IV collagenase expression of oncogene-transformed human bronchial epithelial cells]

The transcriptional levels of the type IV collagenase and the type IV procollagen gene in the oncogene (Ha-ras, ki-ras, raf and myc) transformed human bronchial epithelial cell lines were compared with the properties of invasiveness in vitro, of tumorigenicity and of metastatic ability in athymic nude mice. v-Ha-ras gene enhanced invasion and metastasis, whereas v-ki -ras, c-raf and c-myc had lesser effects on these malignant phenotypes. In addition, cell lines derived from tumors obtained by original cell line in nude mice exhibited enhanced invasion and metastasis accompanied with increased level of the type IV collagenase gene. Capacity of invasiveness and metastasis correlated positively with expression of the type IV collagenase gene and negatively with the expression of the type IV collagen gene, suggesting that these phenotypes are associated both with decreased production and with increased dissolution of extracellular matrix.