Expression of dual-specificity phosphatases in TGFß1-induced EMT in SKOV3 cells

Authors: SABİRE GÜLER, ABDULLAH YALÇIN

Abstract: Background/aim: The study aims to profile the dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSP) expression in response to Transforming growth factor ß1 (TGFß1)-induced epithelial- mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ovarian adenocarcinoma cells. Materials and methods: The ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line SKOV3 was used as a TGFß1-induced EMT model. Cells were incubated with 5 ng/mL TGFß1 to induce EMT. EMT was confirmed with real-time qPCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence analyses of various EMT markers. Western blot was used to analyze phospho- and total MAPK protein levels. Typical and atypical DUSPs mRNA expression profile was determined by real-time qPCR. Results: The epithelial marker E-cadherin expressions were decreased and mesenchymal EMT markers Snail and Slug expression levels were increased after TGFß1 induction. Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK were enhanced in response to TGFß1 treatment. The expression of DUSP2, DUSP6, DUSP8, DUSP10, and DUSP13 were decreased while DUSP7, DUSP16, DUSP18, DUSP21, and DUSP27 were increased by TGFß1. Conclusion: TGFß1 induced EMT which was accompanied by increased activity of MAPKs, and led to marked changes in expressions of several DUSPs in SKOV3 cells.

Keywords: Dual-specificity phosphatases, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, TGFß1, ovarian carcinoma, SKOV3, MAPK

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