HAX1 impact on collective cell migration, cell adhesion, and cell shape is linked to the regulation of actomyosin contractility

Mol Biol Cell. 2019 Dec 1;30(25):3024-3036. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E19-05-0304. Epub 2019 Oct 23.

Abstract

HAX1 protein is involved in the regulation of apoptosis, cell motility and calcium homeostasis. Its overexpression was reported in several tumors, including breast cancer. This study demonstrates that HAX1 has an impact on collective, but not single-cell migration, thus indicating the importance of cell-cell contacts for the HAX1-mediated effect. Accordingly, it was shown that HAX1 knockdown affects cell-cell junctions, substrate adhesion, and epithelial cell layer integrity. As demonstrated here, these effects can be attributed to the modulation of actomyosin contractility through changes in RhoA and septin signaling. Additionally, it was shown that HAX1 does not influence invasive potential in the breast cancer cell line, suggesting that its role in breast cancer progression may be linked instead to collective invasion of the epithelial cells but not single-cell dissemination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Actomyosin / metabolism*
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Adhesion / physiology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation / physiology
  • Cell Shape / physiology
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Junctions / metabolism
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Signal Transduction
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • HAX1 protein, human
  • RHOA protein, human
  • Actomyosin
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein