Motility and stem cell properties induced by the epithelial-mesenchymal transition require destabilization of lipid rafts

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition provides cells with the characteristics needed to metastasize. We hypothesized that it does so through changes in the organization of the plasma membrane. We found that the EMT leads to destabilization of the membrane concomitant with transcriptional reprogramming. However, treatment with DHA stabilizes the membrane and reverts the transcriptional program toward an epithelial state. HMLE cells are treated with a combinations of Snail expression, TGF-b ligand, or DHA.

上皮间质转化（epithelial-mesenchymal transition，EMT）可赋予细胞转移所需的生物学特性。我们提出假说，认为EMT通过改变质膜的组织结构来介导这一过程。研究发现，EMT会引发质膜不稳定，同时伴随转录重编程事件。然而，经二十二碳六烯酸（DHA）处理后，质膜可恢复稳定，并使转录程序向上皮表型逆转。本研究中，HMLE细胞接受了Snail过表达、转化生长因子-β（transforming growth factor-β，TGF-β）配体或DHA的联合处理。