Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 14, 2025

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

13.5K

Direct interaction between Rab5a and Rab4a enhanced epidermal growth factor-stimulated proliferation of gastric

Guo-Jun Cao1, Di Wang1, Zhao-Pei Zeng2

  • 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Huashan Hospital North, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 201907, China.

World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology
|November 1, 2021
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Overexpression of Rab5a and Rab4a genes promotes gastric cancer (GC) progression by enhancing epidermal growth factor receptor recycling. Targeting these genes may offer new therapeutic strategies for refractory GC.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Gastric cancer (GC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality globally.
  • Current targeted therapies for metastatic GC show limited efficacy, necessitating a deeper understanding of cancer progression mechanisms.
  • Rab5a gene overexpression is linked to tumorigenesis, but its specific role in GC remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of Rab5a overexpression on gastric cancer (GC) tumorigenesis.
  • To explore the interaction between Rab5a and Rab4a in GC cells.
  • To assess the effect of Rab5a and Rab4a on epidermal growth factor-stimulated cell proliferation.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Rab5a and Rab4a expression in GC patient tissues.
  • Construction of HGC-27 cell lines overexpressing Rab5a or Rab4a.
  • Western blotting, co-immunoprecipitation, and confocal microscopy to study protein interactions.
  • Cell counting kit-8 assay to evaluate cell proliferation.

Main Results:

  • Rab5a and Rab4a expression levels were elevated in GC tissues compared to normal tissues.
  • Epidermal growth factor (EGF) enhanced proliferation in HGC-27 cells, particularly those overexpressing Rab5a.
  • Co-overexpression of Rab5a and Rab4a resulted in the most significant increase in cell proliferation.
  • A direct interaction between Rab5a and Rab4a was confirmed in HGC-27 cells.

Conclusions:

  • Co-overexpression of Rab5a and Rab4a in GC may enhance epidermal growth factor receptor endosomal recycling, contributing to poor prognosis.
  • Inhibiting Rab5a or Rab4a expression presents a potential therapeutic approach for refractory GC.
Keywords:
Cell proliferationEpidermal growth factorGastric cancerHGC-27 cell linesRab4aRab5a

More Related Videos

Differentiation of Mouse Breast Epithelial HC11 and EpH4 Cells09:32

Differentiation of Mouse Breast Epithelial HC11 and EpH4 Cells

Published on: February 27, 2020

9.2K
Identification of EGFR and RAS Inhibitors using Caenorhabditis elegans08:12

Identification of EGFR and RAS Inhibitors using Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: October 5, 2020

3.2K

Related Concept Videos

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
7.1K
The Ras Gene02:38

The Ras Gene

The Ras-gene-encoded proteins are regulators of signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, or cell survival. The Ras-gene family in humans constitutes three primary members—the HRas, NRas, and KRas. These genes code for four functionally distinct yet closely related proteins—the HRas, NRas, KRas4A, and KRas4B. The involvement of mutant Ras genes in human cancer was first discovered in 1982 and is among the most common causes of human tumorigenesis.
Ras is a...
6.5K
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:
4.4K
Rab Proteins01:14

Rab Proteins

Rab proteins constitute the largest family of monomeric GTPases, of which 70 members are present in humans. Rab proteins and their effectors regulate consecutive stages of vesicle transport such as vesicle transport, docking, and fusion to the correct recipient membrane.
Rab proteins switch between a cytosolic, GDP-bound inactive state and a membrane-anchored, GTP-bound active state. By themselves, Rabs show slow rates of GDP/GTP exchange and GTP hydrolysis. Thus, Rab proteins are considered...
4.3K
Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal01:22

Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma receptor (Eph) and its ligand, Eph receptor-interacting protein (Ephrin) were first discovered in the human carcinoma cell line, hence the name. Ephrin-Eph interaction guides cells to reach their appropriate location in adult tissues. They also play an essential role in the immune system by helping in immune cell migration, adhesion, and activation. Based on their structure and function, Eph is divided into two classes — EphA and EphB.
2.3K
Rab Cascades01:25

Rab Cascades

Rab GTPases act in a regulated cascade during membrane fusion, helping the lipid bilayers mix. The Rab family of proteins are active when bound to GTP, and inactive when bound to GDP. Hence, they act as guanine nucleotide-dependent molecular switches. Rab-GTP recognizes and binds to long or short-range tethering proteins to capture the target vesicle. These tethers coordinate with SNAREs on the vesicle and the target membrane to assemble the trans SNARE complex that locks the mixing bilayers.
2.8K