To explore the role of cortical actin-binding protein (cortactin) in shear stress-induced mucin (MUC) 5AC secretion in human airway epithelial cells and the effect of phosphorylation of cortactin at different sites.
 Methods: HBE16 airway epithelial cells were cultured, and then transfected with mutation carrier, such as pEGFP-N1-cortactin (Cort), pEGFP-N1-Cort-Y421A, pEGFP-N1-Cort-Y470A and pEGFP-N1-Cort-Y486A. The cells were divided into a normal control group, a shear stress group, a shear stress + pEGFP-N1 group, a shear stress + PEGFP-N1-Cort group, a shear stress + pEGFP-N1-Cort-Y421A group, a shear stress + pEGFP-N1-Cort-Y470A group, and a shear stress + pEGFP-N1-Cort-Y486A group. The shear stress were set at 4 dynes/cm2. The levels of MUC5AC protein and mRNA in cells and culture supernatant were assayed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time PCR. The cortactin and phosphorylated cortactin were detected by Western blot. F-actin was stained by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-phalloidin.
 Results: There was an obvious increase of phosphorylated cortactin in cells exposed to 4 dynes/cm2 of shear stress for 30 min, which reached climax at 2 hours concomitant with elevation of MUC5AC protein production and mRNA expression in the different experiment groups (all P<0.05). Compared with single shear stress-stimulated group, MUC5AC in supernatant was increased obviously, and the distribution of F-actin in cytomembrane was also increased in the pEGFP-N1-Cort group (both P<0.05), while there were no changes in the MUC5AC protein and mRNA levels in cytoplasm. Compared with the shear stress+pEGFP-N1-Cort group, the MUC5AC protein in the culture supernatant was decreased, and the polymerization of F-actin at cell membranes were also attenuated in the shear stress+pEGFP-N1-Cort-Y421A group and the shear stress + pEGFP-N1-Cort-Y470A group (both P<0.05), while there was no significant effect in the shear stress + pEGFP-N1-Cort-Y486A group (P>0.05).
 Conclusion: Cortactin is involved in shear stress-mediated MUC5AC secretion in human airway epithelial cells, and the phosphorylated site of Tyr421 and Tyr470 may play an important role in it.
Cortactin ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Mucin 5AC ; Mucus ; Phosphorylation

PURPOSE: Overexpression of cortactin (CTTN) in human tumors has been proposed to result in increased cell migration and metastatic potential. Here, we determined the frequencies of CTTN g.-9101C>T, g.-8748C>T, and g.72C>T polymorphisms in apparently healthy subjects and gastric cancer patients, respectively, and the influence of the CTTN polymorphisms on gastric cancer susceptibility. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 267 patients and 533 controls. CTTN g.-8748C>T and g.-9101C>T polymorphisms were determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism; the g.72C>T polymorphism was determined using the TaqMan method. RESULTS: Genotype frequencies of the CTTN g.-9101C>T polymorphism were 97.5% (TT), 2.5% (TC), and 0% (CC) in the patient group, and 98.6% (TT), 1.4% (TC), and 0% (CC) in the control group. Genotype frequencies of the CTTN g.-8748C>T polymorphism were 93.3% (TT), 6.8% (TC), and 0% (CC) in the patient group, and 94.2% (TT), 5.8% (TC), and 0% (CC) in the control group. Genotype frequencies of the CTTN g.72C>T polymorphism were 82.4% (CC), 17.2% (CT), and 0.4% (TT) in the patient group, and 78.0% (CC), 20.1% (CT), and 1.9% (TT) in the control group. Genotype and allele frequencies of the CTTN g.-9101C>T polymorphism differed significantly between the advanced gastric cancer and control groups. Patients with advanced gastric cancer, possessing the TC genotype, had a significantly poorer prognosis than the group with the TT genotype. CONCLUSION: The CTTN g.-9101C>T polymorphism might influence advanced gastric cancer susceptibility. However, the role of the CTTN g.-9101C>T, g.-8748C>T, and g.72C>T polymorphisms requires careful interpretation and confirmation through larger studies.
Cell Movement ; Cortactin* ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic* ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Objective: To investigate the expression of cortactin in colorectal cancer and its correlation with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis. Methods: The expressions of cortactin in normal colorectal mucosal tissue and colorectal cancer tissue in paraffin-embedded tissue microarray from 319 patients who were diagnosed as colorectal cancer and treated in Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from 2006 to 2009 was detected by immunohistochemistry. Kaplan-Meier method and Log rank test were used for survival analysis, and Cox proportional risk regression model was used for multivariate analysis. Results: The positive expression rates of cortactin in colorectal cancer tissue and normal colorectal mucosal tissue were 61.1% (195/319) and 5.6% (18/319, P<0.001), respectively. T-stage, N-stage, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, degree of tumor differentiation, neural invasion and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were associated with the expression of cortactin (P<0.05). The positive expression of cortactin was associated with poorer disease-free survival (P=0.036) and overall survival (P=0.043), and the effect was more significant in patients with stage Ⅱ to Ⅲ. For patients with stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ colorectal cancer, postoperative adjuvant therapy was associated with disease-free survival (P=0.007) and overall survival (P=0.015). The vascular tumor embolus, pathological type, preoperative CEA level and cortactin expression were independent influencing factors for disease-free survival (P<0.05). The age, AJCC stage, preoperative CEA level and cortactin expression were independent influencing factors for overall survival (P<0.05). Preoperative CEA level and cortactin expression were independent influencing factors for disease-free survival and overall survival (P<0.05). Conclusion: Cortactin is expressed in colorectal cancer and in stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ patients, it is a potential predictor of colorectal cancer prognosis.
Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism* ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen/metabolism* ; Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Cortactin/metabolism* ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: E-cadherin, cortactin, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 have roles in tumor development or progression, but their expression has not been fully investigated in pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia (PEH) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck. METHODS: We evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin, cortactin, and MMP-9 in 29 cases of PEH and 97 cases of SCC. Additionally, we evaluated their relationship with clinicopathologic factors and prognostic implications in SCC. RESULTS: Thirty-five cases of SCC showed reduced expression of E-cadherin, whereas none of the PEH did. A total of 20 cases and 11 cases of SCC were immunoreactive for cortactin and MMP-9, respectively, whereas none of the PEH did. In SCC, reduced expression of E-cadherin was correlated with cortactin expression and invasion depth. Cortactin expression was correlated with differentiation, T classification, and recurrence and/or metastasis. MMP-9 expression was correlated with invasion depth. Cortactin expression was correlated with poor overall survival and relapse-free survival and it was an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced expression of E-cadherin and the expression of cortactin may be helpful for the differential diagnosis of PEH and SCC. Furthermore, cortactin expression in association with reduced E-cadherin expression is correlated with poor prognosis in SCC.
Cadherins ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cortactin ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Head ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Hyperplasia ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVETo investigate the amplification of EMS1 gene in the carcinogenesis of oral mucosa.

METHODSA total of 78 subjects, including 30 patients with oral leukoplakia (OLK), 33 with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and 15 healthy controls, were studied. By using microdissection method, we obtained normal mucosa, hyperplastic epithelia, mild-dysplastic epithelia, moderate-dysplastic epithelia, severe-dysplastic epithelia and primary OSCC tissue. Then we analyzed EMS1 amplification by using differential PCR.

RESULTSEMS1 amplification began from moderate-dysplastic epithelia and occurred in 20.0% OLK cases and 57.6% OSCC cases. In the progress of OSCC, no gene amplification was observed in normal tissues, non-dysplastic OLK and mild-dysplastic OLK, while in the cases with metastasis, amplification frequency increased significantly (P = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONSEMS1 amplification parallels with the progress of oral carcinogenesis, indicating their potential roles in oral carcinogenesis.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Cortactin ; genetics ; Gene Amplification ; Humans ; Leukoplakia, Oral ; genetics ; pathology

BACKGROUND: Cortactin and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) are two important components among actin cross-linking proteins that play a central role in cell migration. METHODS: The aims of this study were to evaluate the expression of cortactin and FAK in normal colorectal mucosa and colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC) using tissue microarray of 2 mm cores to correlate their expression with other clinicopathological factors and, investigate their prognostic significance. RESULTS: Twenty (9%) and 24 cases (11%) of normal colorectal mucosa were immunoreactive for cortactin and FAK. In addition, 184 (84%) and 133 cases (61%) of CRCs were immunoreactive for cortactin and FAK, respectively. Cortactin expression was associated with histologic differentiation and FAK expression. Cortactin, but not FAK expression was also correlated with poor overall and relapse-free survival and served well as an independent prognostic factor for poor survival. CONCLUSIONS: Cortactin expression, in association with FAK expression, may plays an important role in tumor progression. Furthermore, it may also be a satisfactory biomarker to predict tumor progression and survival in CRC patients.
Actins ; Adenocarcinoma ; Calcium Hydroxide ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Cortactin ; Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Focal Adhesions ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mucous Membrane ; Proteins ; Zinc Oxide

Objective: To investigate the effect of adenovirus-mediated shRNA down-regulating phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) expression on vinculin, filamin A, and cortactin in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Methods: Activated rats hepatic stellate cell line (HSC-T6) was cultured in vitro. Recombinant adenovirus Ad-shRNA/PTEN carrying PTEN targeted RNA interference sequence [short hairpin RNA (shRNA)] and empty control virus Ad-GFP were transfected into HSCs. The PTEN mRNA and protein expression of HSCs in each group were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot. The expressional change of vinculin, filamin A and cortactin in HSCs of each group were detected by confocal laser scanning immunofluorescence microscope. Image-pro plus 6.0 software was used for image analysis and processing. The integrated optical density (IOD) of the fluorescence protein expression was measured. The experiment was divided into three groups: control group (DMEM instead of adenovirus solution in the adenovirus transfection step), Ad-GFP group (transfected with empty virus Ad-GFP only expressing green fluorescent protein), and Ad-shRNA/PTEN group (recombinant adenovirus Ad-shRNA/PTEN carrying shRNA targeting PTEN and expressing green fluorescent protein). One-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of mean value among the three groups, and LSD-test was used for comparison between the groups. Results: shRNA targeted PTEN was successfully transfected and the expression of PTEN mRNA and protein in HSC (P < 0.05) was significantly down-regulated. HSCs vinculin was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm. HSCs vinculin fluorescence IOD in the Ad-shRNA/PTEN group (19 758.83 ± 1 520.60) was higher than control (7 737.16 ± 279.93) and Ad-GFP group (7 725.50 ± 373.03) (P < 0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference between control group and Ad-GFP group (P > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the fluorescence IOD of Filamin A among the three groups (P > 0.05), but the subcellular distribution of Filamin A among the three groups were changed. Filamin A in the Ad-shrNA /PTEN HSC group was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm. Filamin A HSC was mainly located in the nucleus.The filamin A HSC in the control group and Ad-GFP group was mainly located in the nucleus. The nucleocytoplasmic ratio of Filamin A in the AD-shrNA /PTEN group (0.60 ± 0.15) was significantly lower than control group (1.20 ± 0.15) and Ad-GFP group (1.08 ± 0.23), P < 0.05. but there was no statistically significant difference in filamin A nucleocytoplasmic ratio of HSC between the control group and the Ad-GFP group (P > 0.05). Cortactin HSCs in the three groups was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm. The cortactin fluorescence IOD of HSCs in the Ad-shRNA/PTEN group was significantly higher than control group (22 959.94 ± 1 710.42) and the Ad-GFP group (22 547.11 ± 1 588.72 ) (P < 0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference in the IOD of cortactin fluorescence in HSCs between the control group and the Ad-GFP group (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The down-regulation of PTEN expression raises the expression of microfilament-binding protein vinculin and cortactin, and changes the subcellular distribution of another microfilament binding protein filamin A, that is, translocation from nucleus to the cytoplasm in activated HSC in vitro.
Adenoviridae/metabolism* ; Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; Cell Proliferation ; Cortactin ; Filamins/genetics* ; Hepatic Stellate Cells/metabolism* ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase/metabolism* ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics* ; Rats ; Vinculin/genetics*

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Cortactin on invasion and metastasis of human colorectal cancer cells through silencing the expression of Cortactin by transfecting colorectal cancer cells with EMS1-siRNA encoded by a recombinant lentiviral vector.

METHODSEMS1-siRNA lentiviral vector and negative control lentiviral vector were both transfected into HCT8 cells after virus packing, then the expression of Cortactin of the cells was examined by Western blot to determine the inhibited level of Cortactin. The cells were defined as three groups: EMS1-siRNA transfecting cells, negative control transfecting cells and un-transfection cells. Cell invasion was evaluated with Transwell body. In addition, cells metastasis was observed in animal models. Thirty nude mice were evenly divided into three groups and all the mice were injected through tail vein with 1×10(7) cells/0.2 ml per animal for each group with the three kinds of cells. The mice were sacrificed 6 weeks after injection and examined for lung metastases development.

RESULTSThe expression of Cortactin and the ability of invasion of the EMS1-siRNA transfecting cells were all decreased. Lung metastasis rates of EMS1-siRNA transfecting group, negative control group and un-transfection group were 20%, 80% and 80%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONsiRNA silencing of Cortactin expression can decrease the colorectal cancer cells invasion, and can also decrease the cells' implantation metastasis in animals.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Cortactin ; genetics ; Gene Silencing ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of EMS1 and DcR3 in laryngeal carcinoma and analyze the relation of EMS1 and DcR3. METHOD: The expression of EMS1 and DcR3 protein in 41 laryngeal carcinoma fresh samples and 41 para-carcinoma tissues (to cutting margin > 0.5 cm) were measured by flow cytometry, and 15 normal laryngeal mucosa samples were also studied as controls. RESULT: (1) The quantitative and qualitative expression of EMS1 and DcR3 protein in laryngeal carcinoma tissues was obviously higher than those in para-carcinoma and in normal laryngeal mucosa tissues respectively (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the expression of para-carcinoma and normal laryngeal mucosa tissues. (2) In laryngeal carcinoma, the expression of EMS1 and DcR3 protein was independent of patients' clinical classification, tumor size, smoking history, patients' age and sex but associated with tumor metastasis, pathological grade and clinical stage. (3) In laryngeal carcinoma, the expression of EMS1 was positively correlated with that of DcR3. CONCLUSION EMS1 was positively related to DcR3, which might play an important role in the carcinogenesis and development of laryngeal carcinoma by synergic effect.
Adult ; Aged ; Cortactin ; metabolism ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 6b ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of EMS1 in laryngeal carcinoma and its clinical significance. METHOD: The expression of EMS1 protein was measured in 40 samples of, 40 samples of para carcinoma tissues (which were near to cutting margin of laryngeal carcinoma tissue over 0.5 cm), and 20 samples of normal laryngeal mucosa as controls by Flow Cytometer (Epics-XL II). RESULT: The quantity and percentage of EMS1 protein expression in laryngeal carcinoma tissues was significantly higher than those in para carcinoma and in normal laryngeal mucosa tissues respectively (P<0.05). There was no significant expression difference between the para carcinoma tissues and normal laryngeal mucosa tissues. There were positive correlation between the expressions of EMS1 protein and metastasis, pathological grade and clinical stage in laryngeal carcinoma. But there were not relationship with patients' clinical classification, tumor size, smoking history, age and sex. CONCLUSION The high expression of EMS1 may contribute to the carcinogenesis and development of laryngeal carcinoma. The expression of EMS1 protein is an important index of judging differentiation, infiltration, metastasis and staging of laryngeal carcinoma.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cortactin ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Mucosa ; metabolism ; pathology ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging