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Updated: May 29, 2026
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Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 27, 2013
Polyamines modulate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition
Alessandra Compagnone1, Compagnone Alessandra, Andrea Bandino
1Department of Experimental Medicine and Oncology, University of Torino, via Michelangelo 27B, 10126, Turin, Italy.
Amino Acids
|September 9, 2011
Summary
Polyamines regulate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by controlling Snai1 nuclear accumulation. Lowering polyamines enhances EMT, while adding polyamines reverses it, impacting fibrosis and cancer progression.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) are crucial for development and disease.
- EMT is implicated in fibrosis and cancer cell invasion, driven by factors like Snai1.
- Snai1 activity is regulated by post-translational modifications and polyamine levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of polyamines in regulating EMT.
- To determine how polyamine levels affect Snai1 activity and nuclear localization.
- To explore polyamine-mediated modulation of EMT in cancer and fibrosis.
Main Methods:
- Used Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells to model EMT.
- Treated cells with TGF-β(1) to induce EMT and DFMO to deplete polyamines.
- Assessed mesenchymal markers, cell phenotype, and Snai1 nuclear localization via Western blotting and immunofluorescence.
Main Results:
- DFMO treatment enhanced TGF-β(1)-induced EMT in MDCK cells.
- Exogenous polyamines reversed EMT and Snai1 nuclear accumulation.
- Snai1 was found to accumulate in the nucleus as polysumoylated proteins under low polyamine conditions.
Conclusions:
- Intracellular polyamine levels critically regulate EMT by controlling Snai1 nuclear translocation and activity.
- Targeting polyamine metabolism may offer therapeutic strategies for fibrosis and epithelial cancers.
- Polyamines influence Snai1 via SUMOylation, impacting its function in EMT.
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