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. 2000 Feb;2(2):76-83.
doi: 10.1038/35000025.

The transcription factor snail controls epithelial-mesenchymal transitions by repressing E-cadherin expression

A Cano  1 , M A Pérez-Moreno, I Rodrigo, A Locascio, M J Blanco, M G del Barrio, F Portillo, M A Nieto
Affiliations

The transcription factor snail controls epithelial-mesenchymal transitions by repressing E-cadherin expression

A Cano et al. Nat Cell Biol. 2000 Feb.

Abstract

The Snail family of transcription factors has previously been implicated in the differentiation of epithelial cells into mesenchymal cells (epithelial-mesenchymal transitions) during embryonic development. Epithelial-mesenchymal transitions are also determinants of the progression of carcinomas, occurring concomitantly with the cellular acquisition of migratory properties following downregulation of expression of the adhesion protein E-cadherin. Here we show that mouse Snail is a strong repressor of transcription of the E-cadherin gene. Epithelial cells that ectopically express Snail adopt a fibroblastoid phenotype and acquire tumorigenic and invasive properties. Endogenous Snail protein is present in invasive mouse and human carcinoma cell lines and tumours in which E-cadherin expression has been lost. Therefore, the same molecules are used to trigger epithelial-mesenchymal transitions during embryonic development and in tumour progression. Snail may thus be considered as a marker for malignancy, opening up new avenues for the design of specific anti-invasive drugs.

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