• BMB Reports
• /
• v.55 no.2
• /
• pp.87-91
• /
• 2022

Aurora kinase is a family of serine/threonine kinases intimately associated with mitotic progression and the development of human cancers. Studies have shown that aurora kinases are important for the protein kinase C (PKC)-induced invasion of colon cancer cells. Recent studies have shown that aurora kinase A promotes distant metastasis by inducing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in colon cancer cells. However, the role of aurora kinase A in colon cancer metastasis remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of aurora kinase A on PKC-induced cell invasion, migration, and EMT in human SW480 colon cancer cells. Treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) changed the expression levels of EMT markers, increasing α-SMA, vimentin, and MMP-9 expression and decreasing E-cadherin expression, with changes in cell morphology. TPA treatment induced EMT in a PKC-dependent manner. Moreover, the inhibition of aurora kinase A by siRNAs and inhibitors (reversine and VX-680) suppressed TPA-induced cell invasion, migration, and EMT in SW480 human colon cells. Inhibition of aurora kinase A blocked TPA-induced vimentin and MMP-9 expression, and decreased E-cadherin expression. Furthermore, the knockdown of aurora kinase A decreased the transcriptional activity of NF-κB and AP-1 in PKC-stimulated SW480 cells. These findings indicate that aurora kinase A induces migration and invasion by inducing EMT in SW480 colon cancer cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that showed aurora kinase A is a key molecule in PKC-induced metastasis in colon cancer cells.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.612-617
• /
• 2006

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase $C-{\gamma}\;1\; (PLC-{\gamma}\;1)$ has pivotal roles in cellular signaling by producing second messengers, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate $(IP_3)$ and diacylglycerol (DG). Tubulin is a main component of microtubules and mitotic spindle fibers, which are composed of ${\alpha}-$ and ${\beta}-tubulin$ heterodimers in all eukaryotic cells. In humans, six ${\beta}-tubulin$ isotypes have been identified which display a distinct pattern of tissue expression. Previously we found that $PLC-{\gamma}\;1$ and one of four ${\beta}-tubulin$ isotypes including ${\beta}1$, ${\beta}2$, ${\beta}3$ and ${\beta}6$, colocalized in COS-7 cells and cotranslocated to the plasma membrane to activate $PLC-{\gamma}\;1$ upon agonist stimulation. In the present study, we demonstrate that the remaining two, tubulin ${\beta}4$ and ${\beta}5$, also showed a potential to activate $PLC-{\gamma}\;1$. The phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate $(PIP_2)$ hydrolyzing activity of $PLC-{\gamma}\;1$ was substantially increased in the presence of purified ${\beta}4$ and ${\beta}5$ tubulin in vitro, whereas the activity was not promoted by bovine serum albumin, suggesting that tubulin ${\beta}4$ and ${\beta}5$ also activate $PLC-{\gamma}\;1$. Taken together, our results suggest that all the ${\beta}-tubulin$ isotype activates $PLC-{\gamma}\;1$ activity to regulate cellular signaling.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.311-321
• /
• 1998

Background: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung arises from submucosal gland of tracheobronchial tree. Histologically, the tumor is composed of mucin-secreting cells, squamous cells, and intermediated cells, which show no particular differentiating characteristics, in varying proportions. The tumor is divided into low grade and high grade depending on the proportion of cells, and the degree of the mitotic activity, cellular necrosis and nuclear pleomorphism. While favorable prognosis of low grade tumor, high grade tumor, which is very difficult to differentiate from adenosquamous carcinoma, has an aggressive clinical course. The tumor is rare, comprising 0.1 to 0.2% of primary lung cancers and 1 to 5% of bronchial adenomas. Method: A retrospective clinical study was done on 17 cases of mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The study investigated the clinical features, radiologic findings, bronchoscopic findings, histology and clinical courses. Results: Age ranged between second to seventh decade with a mean age of 42 years. Twelve out of 17 cases were male. Five out of 17 cases were smokers with a mean 11 pack-years. Common symptoms included dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, and wheezing. Two out of 17 cases was asymptomatic. Atelectasis or mass was common radiologic finding. Plain chest radiography was normal in one patient whom the tumor was located in upper trachea. Bonchoscopy revealed exophytic mass in 12 cases and nodular infiltrations in 4 cases. One case having solitary pulmonary nodule in the right lower lung was normal on bronchoscopy. Histologically, ten out of 17 cases were low grade, and seven out of 17 cases were high grade. Among 10 patients with low grade tumor,9 patients were performed operation and have been alive without recurrence during a mean follow-up of 30 months. Two out of 7 patients with high grade tumor were performed pneumonectomy and have been alive during a follow-up of 3 and 8 months, respectively. Conclusion: Most of mucoepidermoid carcinoma is located at central airway and is presented symptoms by mucosal irirtation. Although atelectasis or mass is common radiologic finding. chest X -ray can be normal. The histologic grading and the extent of tumor are two most important factors for prognosis.